Files and links (1)
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish ProgramCC BY-NC V4.0, Open
Journal article
Urban scaling of opioid overdose deaths in the USA: a cross-sectional study in three periods between 2005 and 2017
BMJ open, v 12(3), e048831
03 Mar 2022
PMID: 35241464
Featured in Collection : Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
Abstract
To describe the association between population size, population growth and opioid overdose deaths-overall and by type of opioid-in US commuting zones (CZs) in three periods between 2005 and 2017.
741 CZs covering the entirety of the US CZs are aggregations of counties based on commuting patterns that reflect local economies.
We used mortality data at the county level from 2005 to 2017 from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Opioid overdose deaths were defined using underlying and contributory causes of death codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). We used the underlying cause of death to identify all drug poisoning deaths. Contributory cause of death was used to classify opioid overdose deaths according to the three major types of opioid, that is, prescription opioids, heroin and synthetic opioids other than methadone.
Opioid overdose deaths were disproportionally higher in largely populated CZs. A CZ with 1.0% larger population had 1.10%, 1.10%, and 1.16% higher opioid death count in 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2017, respectively. This pattern was largely driven by a high number of deaths involving heroin and synthetic opioids, particularly in 2015-2017. Population growth over time was associated with lower age-adjusted opioid overdose mortality rate: a 1.0% increase in population over time was associated with 1.4% (95% CI: -2.8% to 0.1%), 4.5% (95% CI: -5.8% to -3.2%), and 1.2% (95% CI: -4.2% to 1.8%) lower opioid overdose mortality in 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2017, respectively. The association between positive population growth and lower opioid mortality rates was stronger in larger CZs.
Opioid overdose mortality in the USA was disproportionately higher in mid-sized and large CZs, particularly those affected by declines in population over time, regardless of the region where they are located.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Urban scaling of opioid overdose deaths in the USA: a cross-sectional study in three periods between 2005 and 2017
- Creators
- Pricila H Mullachery - Drexel UniversityStephen Lankenau - Drexel UniversityAna V Diez Roux - Drexel UniversityRan Li - Drexel UniversityRosie Mae Henson - Drexel University, Dana and David Dornsife School of Public HealthUsama Bilal - Drexel University, Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health
- Publication Details
- BMJ open, v 12(3), e048831
- Publisher
- British Medical Journal (BMJ)
- Grant note
- DP5 OD026429 / NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000765426300017
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85125689426
- Other Identifier
- 991019167601204721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health