Confronting death from drug self-intoxication (DDSI): Prevention through a better definition

I.R.H. Rockett, G.S. Smith, E.D. Caine, N.D. Kapusta, R.L. Hanzlick, G.L. Larkin, C.P.E. Naylor, K.B. Nolte, T.R. Miller, S.L. Putnam, D. De Leo, J. Kleinig, S. Stack, K.H. Todd and D.W. Fraser

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 12, e49-e55

Abstract: Suicide and other selfdirected violence deaths are likely grossly underestimated, reflecting inappropriate classification ofmany drug intoxication deaths as accidents or unintentional and heterogeneous ascertainment and coding practices across states. As the tide of prescription and illicit drug-poisoning deaths is rising, public health and research needs would be better satisfied by considering most of these deaths a result of self-intoxication. Epidemiologists and prevention scientists could design better intervention strategies by focusing on premorbid behavior. We propose incorporating deaths from drug selfintoxication and investigations of all poisoning deaths into the National Violent Death Reporting System, which contains misclassified homicides and undetermined intent deaths, to facilitate efforts to comprehend and reverse the surging rate of drug intoxication fatalities. © 2013 American Public Health Association.

Keywords: cause of death; drug overdose; epidemiology; female; health survey; human; intoxication; male; mortality; nomenclature; prevention and control; statistics and numerical data; suicide; United States, Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Female; Humans; Male; Poisoning; Population Surveillance; Suicide; Terminology as Topic; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302244_5

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302244

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