Accidental drug overdose fatalities Allegheny County, PA 2007-2011: Comparison and recommendations

Parsons, Ashley (2014) Accidental drug overdose fatalities Allegheny County, PA 2007-2011: Comparison and recommendations. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

A report of the drug overdose fatalities in Allegheny County between years 2007-2011 with comparison to peer counties is important to Public Health, because of the implications these findings have on health policy, future monitoring, and targeted interventions to decrease drug use within the county. All deaths of Allegheny County residents coded as X40-X499 under the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10) between 2007-2011 were analyzed to observe and assess trends. 1,055 Allegheny County residents died from accidental poisonings in this time period. Of these deaths 335 were of residents residing within the city limits for Pittsburgh, while 720 were of residents living in the remainder of the county (area not considered to be the City of Pittsburgh). Males had substantially higher age-adjusted fatality rates than females, with average fatality rates for 2007-2011 of 24.3 and 10.1 per 100,000 people, respectively. The largest proportion of deaths within Allegheny County was due to accidental poisonings by and exposure to narcotics and hallucinogens (ICD-10: X42). When comparing Allegheny County to the United States and its peers of Philadelphia, Cook, and Wayne County, Allegheny County had lower age-adjusted rates than Philadelphia County, but higher rates than the US, Cook County, and Wayne County. When considering the average fatality rates, Allegheny County had similar poisoning rates between whites and blacks (17.7 and 17.8 per 100,000 people, respectively). This trend was not seen in any other location observed. After analyzing and comparing Allegheny County accidental poisoning fatalities for 2007-2011 it appears that the county is experiencing a drug use problem that warrants investigation and intervention. Future steps to decrease drug use and subsequent death of Allegheny County residents include policy change, monitoring of changes in drug death patterns (movement from urban areas to suburban and rural), consideration of new intervention techniques, and education for residents and physicians. By monitoring future drug overdose fatalities within the county, there is potential to decrease the public health burden of drug use through implementation of targeted interventions and education programs.

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Details

Item Type:	Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Parsons, Ashley
Contributors:	Contribution Contributors Name Email Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Glynn, Nancy W. glynnn@edc.pitt.edu EPIDNWG UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Fabio, Anthony afabio@pitt.edu AFABIO UNSPECIFIED Committee Member James, Everette aejames@pitt.edu AEJAMES UNSPECIFIED
Date:	December 2014
Date Type:	Submission
Defense Date:	2014
Submission Date:	25 November 2014
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree:	MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type:	Master Essay
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Drug, overdose, fatalities, Allegheny, County
Date Deposited:	14 Aug 2015 21:08
Last Modified:	27 Jul 2022 10:56
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23661

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• Accidental drug overdose fatalities Allegheny County, PA 2007-2011: Comparison and recommendations. (deposited 14 Aug 2015 21:08) [Currently Displayed]

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