Concordance between controlled substance receipt and post-mortem toxicology in opioid-detected overdose deaths: A statewide analysis

Original research
par
Howell, Benjamin A. et al

Date de publication

2023

Géographie

USA

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Non

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Non

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

There is limited research linking decedents’ receipt of controlled substances and presence of controlled substances on post-mortem toxicology (PMT).

Constatations/points à retenir

Our results suggest medically supplied opioids and benzodiazepines potentially contributed to a substantial number, though minority, of opioid-detected deaths during the study period. Efforts to reduce opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing may reduce risk of opioid-detected deaths in this group, but other approaches will be needed to address most opioid-detected deaths that involved non-pharmaceutical opioids.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

We linked data on opioid-detected deaths in Connecticut between May 3, 2016, and December 31, 2017 (n=1412) from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Department of Consumer Protection, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Exposure was defined as receipt of an opioid or benzodiazepine prescription within 90 days prior to death.

Mots clés

Overdose
Mortality