OBJECTIVES: Heroin-related deaths have increased substantially in the past 10 years in the United States, particularly in Florida. Our objectives were to measure heroin-related morbidity and mortality rates in Orange County, Florida, and to assess trends in those rates during 2010-2014. METHODS: We used 3 heroin surveillance methods, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiner, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics-Florida (ESSENCE-FL). We conducted descriptive and geographic spatial analyses of all 3 data sets, determined heroin-related mortality and morbidity (emergency department [ED] visit) rates, and compared the timeliness of data availability from the 3 data sources. RESULTS: Heroin-related deaths in Orange County increased by 590%, from 10 in 2010 to 69 in 2014. Heroin-related ED visits during the same period increased 12-fold (from 13 to 154) and 6-fold (from 49 to 307) when based on AHCA and ESSENCE-FL data, respectively. ESSENCE-FL identified 140% more heroin-related visits than did AHCA. Spatial analysis found geographic clustering of heroin-related morbidity and mortality. Hospitals facing the greatest burden of heroin-related ED visits were close to communities with the highest crude heroin-related ED visit rates. Of the 3 data sources, ESSENCE-FL provided the timeliest data availability. CONCLUSIONS: These 3 data sources can be considered acceptable surveillance systems for monitoring heroin-related events in Orange County. The timely availability of data from ESSENCE-FL makes it the most useful source for obtaining near-real-time data about the heroin epidemic, potentially leading to improved identification of populations most in need of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality.
OBJECTIVES:Heroin-related deaths have increased substantially in the past 10 years in the United States, particularly in Florida. Our objectives were to measure heroin-related morbidity and mortality rates in Orange County, Florida, and to assess trends in those rates during 2010-2014. METHODS: We used 3 heroin surveillance methods, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiner, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics-Florida (ESSENCE-FL). We conducted descriptive and geographic spatial analyses of all 3 data sets, determined heroin-related mortality and morbidity (emergency department [ED] visit) rates, and compared the timeliness of data availability from the 3 data sources. RESULTS:Heroin-related deaths in Orange County increased by 590%, from 10 in 2010 to 69 in 2014. Heroin-related ED visits during the same period increased 12-fold (from 13 to 154) and 6-fold (from 49 to 307) when based on AHCA and ESSENCE-FL data, respectively. ESSENCE-FL identified 140% more heroin-related visits than did AHCA. Spatial analysis found geographic clustering of heroin-related morbidity and mortality. Hospitals facing the greatest burden of heroin-related ED visits were close to communities with the highest crude heroin-related ED visit rates. Of the 3 data sources, ESSENCE-FL provided the timeliest data availability. CONCLUSIONS: These 3 data sources can be considered acceptable surveillance systems for monitoring heroin-related events in Orange County. The timely availability of data from ESSENCE-FL makes it the most useful source for obtaining near-real-time data about the heroin epidemic, potentially leading to improved identification of populations most in need of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Authors: D Adam Algren; Carolyn P Monteilh; Mohan Punja; Joshua G Schier; Martin Belson; Bradford R Hepler; Carl J Schmidt; Corinne E Miller; Manish Patel; Leonard J Paulozzi; Masja Straetemans; Carol Rubin Journal: J Med Toxicol Date: 2013-03
Authors: Rose A Rudd; Len J Paulozzi; Michael J Bauer; Richard W Burleson; Rick E Carlson; Dan Dao; James W Davis; Jennifer Dudek; Beth Ann Eichler; Jessie C Fernandes; Anna Fondario; Barbara Gabella; Beth Hume; Theron Huntamer; Mbabazi Kariisa; Thomas W Largo; JoAnne Miles; Ashley Newmyer; Daniela Nitcheva; Beatriz E Perez; Scott K Proescholdbell; Jennifer C Sabel; Jessica Skiba; Svetla Slavova; Kathy Stone; John M Tharp; Tracy Wendling; Dagan Wright; Anne M Zehner Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2014-10-03 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Howard Burkom; Wayne Loschen; Richard Wojcik; Rekha Holtry; Monika Punjabi; Martina Siwek; Sheri Lewis Journal: JMIR Public Health Surveill Date: 2021-06-21