Demographic, geographic, and temporal patterns of ambulance runs for suspected opiate overdose in Rhode Island, 1997-20021.
We examine ambulance runs for suspected opiate overdose from 1997 to 2002 using a Rhode Island Department of Health database. Of the 8,763 ambulance runs for overdoses, 18.6% were for suspected opiate overdoses. Most cases were males under age 54. Suspected opiate overdoses were more likely to occur in a private residence, were more frequent on Fridays and Saturdays, and peaked in incidence around 9:00 p.m. The incidence rate of suspected opiate overdose by year was similar. The study results may help identify areas for preventive intervention and demonstrate the limitation of using naloxone as a marker of opiate overdose events.
Merchant
Roland C
RC
Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA. rmerchant@lifespan.org
Schwartzapfel
Beth L
BL
Wolf
Francis A
FA
Li
Wenjun
W
Carlson
Lynn
L
Rich
Josiah D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003710:Demography; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology
D009270:Naloxone