Nonfatal Drug Overdoses
For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll. This fast-moving epidemic does not distinguish among age, sex, or state or county lines. Current, timelier collection of emergency department (ED) visit information can be used to more quickly identify, track, and respond to changes in drug overdose trends.
Timely data help improve coordination among health departments, community members, healthcare providers, public health, law enforcement, and government agencies and promote readiness for regional or multiple state overdose increases.
Research shows that people who have had at least one overdose are more likely to have another1. If a person who has had an overdose is seen in the ED, there is an opportunity to help prevent a repeat overdose by linking an individual to care that can improve their health outcomes. Learn more about Overdose Prevention.
- Suffoletto B, Zeigler A. Risk and protective factors for repeated overdose after opioid overdose survival.external icon Drug Alcohol Depend 2020 Feb 5;209:107890. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107890
