Background: Current surveillance methods for heroin overdoses may be overestimates. Objective: To use Emergency Medical Service (EMS) data to track the number of immediately life threatening heroin overdoses in a municipal setting. Methods: All EMS calls by the citywide provider of 911 services were tracked. Cases in which naloxone (Narcan) was given were analyzed for acute opiate intoxication (respiratory rate less than 10, pinpoint pupils, track marks or needle on scene). Cases that met inclusion criteria wee assessed for illicit drug use and significant clinical improvement with naloxone. Data collected included neighborhood and date of occurrence. Results: 214 cases where naloxone was administered were identified during a 19-month period. 193 cases met all criteria. 193/214 (90%) cases meeting inclusion criteria had illicit heroin use with overdose. Incidence varied by month (range 1-16/month) with peaks in March, April, August, September, and October. Rate per 100,000 population by neighborhood were high in six central city neighborhoods (90.5, 84.9, 71.1, 67.9, 61.1, 48.5, and 49.1) and low rates (< 20) in the remainder of the city. Conclusion: EMS naloxone usage may be a good marker for overdose caused by illicit heroin use in an urban population. This data may be useful in identifying trends among at risk populations for outreach.
Learning Objectives: Articulate a process of analyzing heroin overdose by utilizing EMS system data Determine methods for integrating data analysis with EMS systems Learn attack rates that may be used to convert EMS system data to heroin overdose data
Keywords: Drug Abuse, EMS/Trauma
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.