Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh say that incomplete reports of excessive deaths may hinder the country's efforts to fight the opioid epidemic.
They said that from 1999 to 20 15, as many as 70,000 opioid overdose deaths were not included in the national estimate, because the coroner and medical examiner did not explicitly point out that opioids were a contributing factor in the death certificate.
During the period of 17, the national opioid overdose death increased by 401%; Non-opioid overdose death increased150%; However, the number of deaths from unknown overdose increased by 220%.
According to this study, in Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, more than 35% of excess deaths are listed on death certificates, and the details are unknown.
In terms of unexplained overdose deaths, there are great differences among States, from less than 10 in Vermont to 1 1252 in Pennsylvania.
It is found that the state with county coroner system or mixed system of county coroner and state forensic doctors often has a higher proportion of unexplained excessive deaths.
The lead author Jeanine bucharnich said that the coroner may not have received medical training and could not complete the drug information of the death certificate according to the toxicology report. She added that countries with decentralized or mixed systems tend to have a low degree of standardization and there is a gap in the accuracy of reporting.
Bucharest said in a university press release: "The appropriate allocation of resources for the opioid epidemic depends on the understanding of the seriousness of the problem." She is an associate professor of research at the School of Public Health.
"Incomplete death certificate reports hinder the efforts of legislators, therapists and public health officials. We found that the completeness of reports of opioid-related overdose deaths varies greatly among States, which makes it more difficult to determine the most dangerous geographical areas.
She pointed out that some organizations called for more accurate reporting of drugs in death certificates.
The study was published in the June 27th issue of Public Health Report.
The centers for disease control and prevention in the United States have more oral overdoses.
Copyright 20 18 Health Day. property in copyright
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