Query purpose:
To assist state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal public health practitioners in monitoring emergency department (ED) visits for suspected opioid overdoses.
Drug/Substance Misuse
Query purpose:
To assist state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal public health practitioners in monitoring emergency department (ED) visits for suspected overdoses of any drug.
Description
Syndromic surveillance of ED and PCC data has been widely used for the detection, tracking monitoring and monitoring of health events (e.g. bioterrorism, , disease outbreaks, environmental exposures) over the past decade. In recent years, these data have been found to be useful for public health programs not normally associated with syndromic surveillance (e.g. injury prevention, drug abuse, environmental health). In 2010, the first calls referencing exposure to products marketed as "legal highs" and "bath salts" were received by PCCs in the United States. Synthetic drugs, such as those commonly known as "bath salts," often are labeled as "not for human consumption" and thereby circumvent normal legal control procedures that control the sale and distribution of recreational drugs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emerging trends for the use of "bath salts" in Ohio.
Objective
Correlation and time series analyses were completed to evaluate the emerging trends in designer drug use for "Bath Salts" in Ohio using emergency department (ED) chief complaint and poison control center (PCC) human exposure data.
Referenced File
Description
Of the 13 million people in Malawi1 85% are rural and the country has high burden of under-five morbidity and mortality due to preventable infectious diseases. Respiratory, febrile and diarrhea diseases are the top 3 morbidity and mortality illnesses in most developing countries2. Acute medical care has greatly improved these conditions, but widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics threatens to reverse gains achieved so far. Drug sensitivity tests are a prerequisite to guide prescription practices.
Objective
Assessment of routine use of drug sensitivity test results to guide treatment choices in district hospitals in Malawi.
Referenced File
Description
Singulair (MONTELUKAST SODIUM) is a Leukotriene receptor antagonist, indicated to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children. It is also used to relieve allergies in adults and children. Singulair was approved by the FDA in February 20, 1998. In March 2008 the FDA informed healthcare professionals of investigating the possible association between Singulair usage and behavior/mood changes, suicidality and suicide. First Life Research [FLR] identifies, analyzes, indexes and aggregates user generated content by collecting billions of testimonials from social networks. It utilizes cutting edge technologies for massive data aggregation, and applies advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques for continuous analyses, in order to convert this unstructured data into refined information. With a large population sharing experiences regarding health issues and treatments online via social media platforms [Health 2.0], generating novel data sets comprised of massive unstructured user generated content of health reports. This collective intelligence is referred to as the 'Wisdom of the Crowd' or the 'Crowd Trial'. Unlike regulated formal post marketing reports, the crowd trial takes place spontaneously, continuously and on a very large scale. This Crowd Trial provides a snapshot of health trends and has become a proxy of post-market clinical trials of medications and other therapies.
Objective
The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate how applying an additional data source originated from e-patient reports, helps support drug surveillance and Pharmacovigilance processes.
Referenced File
This syndrome was created to monitor emergency room visits related to opioid abuse in Suburban Cook County, IL. It is adapted from CDC’s Opioid Overdose v2 syndrome, and expanded to include terms for opioid withdrawal, injection site infections, and patients with underlying opiate abuse or dependence disorders, as well as unintentional overdose with opioids.
Louisiana, like other states, grapples with widespread drug abuse. CDC’s DrugOverdose Death Data show Louisiana had a statistically significant 14.7% increase in its drug overdose death rate from 2015–2016. As early as 2013, the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology section (IDEpi), began receiving requests for drug abuse data from the governor’s office and community- based organizations for a deeper understanding of overdose trends and populations at greatest risk.
This syndrome attempts to capture Opioid, Cocaine and Meth Injection Drug Use hospital visits. The syndrome was developed using NSSP ESSNECE and evaluated on Maricopa County emergency department and inpatient data. Fields used in ESSENCE include Admit Reason Combo, Cheif Complaint History and Discharge Diagnosis.
Description
The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 9th to 12th graders in Miami-Dade County public schools found that 69.7% of students tried alcohol, 28.3% tried marijuana, and 6.3% tried cocaine in their lifetime. Results also showed that Hispanics had a higher percentage of usage when compared to Blacks or Whites. The 2007 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy special report entitled “Hispanic Teens and Drugs” also concluded that Hispanics were at the highest risk for substance abuse. With the county’s 60% Hispanic population, this issue is of concern for the community. This is the first study to compare multiple sources of data to describe substance abuse among youth from areas such as healthcare utilization to criminal charges.
Referenced File
Unused, expired and leftover medicines that accumulate in homes represent a significant public health problem by increasing the risk of drug misuse and preventable poisonings. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 75% percent of people who reported misusing painkillers in 2013-2014 most recently got the medication from a friend, family member, or dealer. Improper disposal of unwanted medications also poses a heightened risk to the environment.