Linking Death Certificates, Postmortem Toxicology, and Prescription History Data for Better Identification of Populations at Increased Risk for Drug Intoxication Deaths

Svetla Slavova, Terry L. Bunn, Sarah L. Hargrove, Tracey Corey, Van Ingram

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Our objective was to assess and improve the completeness of drug-related information, to evaluate the risk for drug intoxication deaths associated with specific drugs among different demographic groups, and to show the benefit of multi-source surveillance to better target interventions and to inform policy evaluation. Methods: This study linked death certificate, prescription drug monitoring program, and postmortem toxicology data for Kentucky residents aged ≥18 years who died from drug intoxication during 2013–2014. Results: The most frequently listed contributing drugs were pharmaceutical opioids (60%), alprazolam (35%), and heroin (29%) (not mutually exclusive). The highest death rates from fentanyl (4 per 100,000 Kentucky population aged ≥18 years) and heroin (13 per 100,000) intoxication were among those aged 25–34 years, whereas the highest death rates associated with prescription opioids (excluding morphine and fentanyl) were among those aged 35–54 years (15 per 100,000). Appalachian county residents had a significantly higher intoxication fatality rate (34 per 100,000) than residents from non-Appalachian counties (27 per 100,000). One-quarter of death certificates did not list any specific contributing drug, but postmortem toxicology reports were available for 89% of these cases and provided information on drugs used before death. Analysis of decedents’ controlled substance prescription records suggested drug diversion (e.g., only 36% of the decedents who tested positive for oxycodone had recently filled prescriptions). Conclusions: The abuse and diversion of drugs significantly impact the health and safety of Kentucky citizens. This study demonstrated the benefit of integrated multi-source drug intoxication fatality surveillance to identify drug misuse and diversion and population groups at high risk for drug poisoning mortality and to inform targeted prevention programs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-165
Number of pages11
JournalPharmaceutical Medicine
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

Funding

This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-PM-BX-0010 (Data-Driven Multidisciplinary Approaches to Reducing Prescription Abuse in Kentucky) awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The BJA is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Program, which includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office of Victims Crime, and the SMART Office. Viewpoints or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the US Department of Justice.

FundersFunder number
Department of Justice's Office of Justice Program
U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Assistance
National Institute of Justice
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking
Office for Victims of Crime
Bureau of Justice Statistics

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmacology (medical)

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