Prescription drug abuse: Developing evidence-based state level interventions

Introduction: Prescription drug abuse and overdose has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a major growing health problem. Data collection for mortality can be inconsistent because of differences in medical examiner or coroner classification of cause of death. The small number of deaths per year at a state level can also limit verification of trends. Further, data being collected by the state prescription monitoring program is not being analyzed for trends in drug use, abuse, and diversion.The coordination of data collection at the state level will help inform evidence-based policies.

Methods: In 2011, 232 Mississippians died of unintentional drug overdose (ICD-10 x40-44). Data from these 232 decedents were compared with prescription monitoring program data to identify patterns of prescription use in the two years prior to death.

Results/Discussion: Limitations in the current software have blocked mechanized analysis of the data. As a result, the project currently serves as an example of "lessons learned" in data analysis with multiple stakeholders. Some analysis was still performed. Using the vital statistics data, variations were identified. The rate of mortality due to unintentional poisoning by drug overdose was nearly three times higher in Public Health Region IX as in the rest of the state over 2007-2011. These variations are almost certainly attributable to the racial distribution of the decedents, with 90 percent categorized as white. Needs for the software program were identified, and the prescription monitoring program is incorporating changes into a new software system to be implemented in 2013.