Problems of accuracy in official statistics on drug-related deaths.
The accuracy of statistics on drug-related deaths depends on numerous processes at work from the investigation of the death-scene to the categorization of the case in official statistics. This article discusses problems in lack of information, pressures on medical examiners, definition, nomenclature, and conventions of coding. The implications for comparisons of rates of drug-related deaths across ethnic groups and geographic areas are discussed.
Shai
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Department of Sociology, Villanova University, Pennsylvania 19085.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D015994:Incidence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs