Description
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) utilizes syndromic surveillance ED data to measure morbidity associated with opioid and heroin overdoses among Virginia residents. Understanding which individuals within a population use ED services for repeated drug overdose events may help guide the use of limited resources towards the most effective treatment and prevention efforts.
Objective: To identify and assess the characteristics of individuals with repeated emergency department (ED) visits for unintentional opioid overdose, including heroin, and how they differ from individuals with a single overdose ED visit.