Demographic, Geographic, and Temporal Patterns of Ambulance Runs for Suspected Opiate Overdose in Rhode Island, 1997-2002

• Published in: Substance use & misuse Vol. 41; no. 9; pp. 1209 - 1226
• Main Authors: Merchant, Roland C., Schwartzapfel, Beth L., Wolf, Francis A., Li, Wenjun, Carlson, Lynn, Rich, Josiah D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Emergency Medical Services; Epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heroin; Medical sciences; naloxone; narcotics; Opiates; Opium; overdose; Psychoanalysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; recreational drug use; Toxicology; USA; Rhode Island; United States; North America; America; Morphinan derivatives; Human; Drug addiction; Illicit drug; Overdosing; Opiates; Epidemiology; 1997; narcotics; Naloxone; Addiction; Ambulance; Sociodemographic factor; 2002; recreational drug use; Overdose; Drug of abuse; Heroin; Public health; Geographical variation
• ISSN: 1082-6084; 1532-2491
• DOI: 10.1080/10826080600751898

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.