heroin and Wounds--Gunshot

The opioid crisis is a major public health emergency. Current data likely underestimate the full impact on mortality due to limitations in reporting and toxicology screening. We explored the relationship between opioid overdose and firearm-associated emergency department visits (ODED & FAED, respectively).. For the years 2010 to 2017, we analyzed county-level ODED and FAED visits in Kentucky using Office of Health Policy and US Census Bureau data. Firearm death certificate data were analyzed along with high-dose prescriptions from the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting records. Socioeconomic variables analyzed included health insurance coverage, race, median household earnings, unemployment rate, and high-school graduation rate.. ODED and FAED visits were correlated (Rho = 0.29, P< 0.01) and both increased over the study period, remarkably so after 2013 (P < 0.001). FAED visits were higher in rural compared to metro counties (P < 0.001), while ODED visits were not. In multivariable analysis, FAED visits were associated with ODED visits (Std. B = 0.24, P= 0.001), high-dose prescriptions (0.21, P = 0.008), rural status (0.19, P = 0.012), percentage white race (-0.28, P = 0.012), and percentage high school graduates (-0.68, P < 0.001). Unemployment and earnings were bivariate correlates with FAED visits (Rho = 0.42, P < 0.001 and -0.32, P < 0.001, respectively) but were not significant in the multivariable model.. In addition to recognized nonfatal consequences of the opioid crisis, firearm violence appears to be a corollary impact, particularly in rural counties. Firearm injury prevention efforts should consider the contribution of opioid use and abuse.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Prescriptions; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Humans; Kentucky; Opiate Overdose; Opioid Epidemic; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Violence; Wounds, Gunshot

Topics: Adult; Aneurysm, Infected; Brachiocephalic Trunk; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Artery, Internal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Ligation; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Wounds, Gunshot

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Death, Sudden; Heroin; Humans; Infant; Liver; Middle Aged; New York City; Racial Groups; Vitamin A; Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Gunshot