U.S. Emergency Room Visits Show Sharp Rise of 50-80% from Opioid Overdoses

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

U.S. Emergency Room Visits Show Sharp Rise of 50-80% from Opioid Overdoses

March 10, 2018 (EIRNS)—Data from hospital emergency rooms on the visits from opioid overdose cases, show a rise of 30% to 100% from September 2016 to September 2017, according to an analysis of 52 jurisdictions in 45 states, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released March 6. The average is 35%.

Sub-patterns were also analyzed, which show that the highest jump in emergency room opioid cases was for large central metropolitan areas, with an urban center population over 1 million, where there were rates over 50%.

Another pattern showed significant increases in all states reporting in the Midwest, including Wisconsin (109%), Illinois (66%), Indiana (35%), Ohio (28%), and Missouri (21%.)

In the Northeast, Delaware had a 105% increase in opioid overdose ER visits, and Pennsylvania, 81%.

The comparative rates of year-on-year increase of opioid ER visits among the five large regions of the 48 states are: Midwest (70%), West (40%), Northeast (21%), Southwest (20%), and Southeast (14%.)

CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat, MD, in reporting the statistics, said in the March 6 statement, “Long before we receive data from death certificates, emergency department data can point to alarming increases in opioid overdoses. This fast-moving epidemic affects both men and women, and people of every age. It does not respect state or county lines, and is still increasing in every region in the United States.”