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A Public Health Response to an Epidemic of Fatal Drug Overdoses in North Carolina

A Public Health Response to an Epidemic of Fatal Drug Overdoses in North Carolina. Catherine (Kay) Sanford, MSPH Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Division of Public Health, NC-DHHS kay.sanford@ncmail.net 919.707.5434. NC’s Public Health Steps. 1. CDC-NCIPC Injury Indicator Report

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A Public Health Response to an Epidemic of Fatal Drug Overdoses in North Carolina

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  1. A Public Health Response to an Epidemic of Fatal Drug Overdoses in North Carolina Catherine (Kay) Sanford, MSPH Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Division of Public Health, NC-DHHS kay.sanford@ncmail.net 919.707.5434 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  2. NC’s Public Health Steps 1.CDC-NCIPC Injury Indicator Report 2. EIS Investigation – Fatal Poisonings in NC 3. Task Force on Unintentional Drug Overdoses 4. MMWR on Unintentional Drug Overdoses in 11 states 5. Task Force Recommendations 6. NC-DOJ/DHHS Leadership Committee on Drug Overdoses 7. Year 1: Surveillance and PMP Legislation NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  3. 1. CDC-NCIPC Injury Indicator Report • NC Division of Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention Branch funded through CDC’s “Core Capacity” program in 2000. • In 2001-2002, NC Injury Program participated in first national Injury Indicator Report; approx. 20 states, using 1999 data. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  4. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  5. Definition of Poisoning • Damaging physiologic effects from exposure to • pharmaceuticals (prescribed and OTC) • illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin) • chemicals (e.g., pesticides) • heavy metals (e.g., mercury) • gases/vapors (e.g., carbon monoxide) • household substances (e.g, bleach, ammonia) NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  6. Accidental Drug Overdose - International Classification of Disease (ICD) Definition • Unintentional (Accidental) Drug Overdose • Inaccurate prescription or administration of a drug/substance • Inappropriate consumption of a drug/substance NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  7. Adverse Effect from Drug- International Classification of Disease (ICD) Definition • Adverse Effect(s) from a Drug • Appropriate prescription/administration of drug with the patient experiencing an adverse physiologic reaction to the drug/substance. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  8. Comparing NC injury trends to that of the nation.Intentional and Unintentional Poisoning Crude Death Rates in the US and NC: 1997-2001 WISQARS:www.cdc.gov/ncipc/ 1-2004 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  9. NC Resident Deaths Due to Poisoning by Manner/Intent: 1997 – 2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  10. 2. EIS Investigation – ? Epidemic of Fatal Poisonings in North Carolina • Mortality data showed clear evidence that increase in deaths was due to unintentional poisonings. • NC State Health Director requested an EIS investigation from CDC • June-July 2002: Review of 1,096 Medical Examiner cases in 3 weeks • Confirmation on Indicator Report findings NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  11. Case Definition: Underlying cause of death from Medical Examiner • Underlying cause was drug-related based on impression of ME on investigation report, and review by pathologists and toxicologists at OCME: autopsy, toxicology report, review of clinical and historical information. • M. E. concluded manner of death was accidental NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  12. Case Definition for Reviewing Medical Examiner Cases of Accidental Drug Overdose Deaths • Initial Selection: all NC residents dying in NC between 1997 and 2001, inclusive, with an underlying cause of death due to unintentional drug-related poisoning (E850-E858; X40-X44) with a death certificate on file at the NC State Center for Health Statistics. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  13. 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 97-01 Vital Stats 187 191 234 318 390 1320 ME Abstraction 157 155 190 278 316 1096 % of VS 84.0 81.2 81.2 87.4 81.0 83.0 ME Chart Abstraction NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  14. Deaths from Unintentional Drug Overdoses from NC ME Data (n=1,096) by Age and Sex : 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  15. Unintentional Drug Deaths by Race from Abstracted ME Records (N=1096) in NC: 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  16. Unintentional Drug Deaths by Sex from Abstracted ME Records (N=1096) in NC: 1997-2001 Females: N=347 31.7% Males: N=749 68.3% NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  17. Unintentional Drug Deaths by Sex and Year from Abstracted ME Records (N=1096) in NC: 1997-2001 Males: 66% increaseFemales: 210% increase NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  18. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  19. Treatment Provided Prior to Deaths from Unintentional Drug Overdoses from Medical Examiner Data in North Carolina: 1997-2001 DOA = dead on arrival ED = emergency department Rx = treatment (1,096 ME cases) NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  20. Drug Abuse 53.8% Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism 23.8% Chronic Pain 20.1% Mental Health 20.4% Unintentional Drug Deaths by Past Medical History from Abstracted ME Records (N=1096) in NC: 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  21. Decedents’ Source of Drugs from NC Medical Examiner Records by Sex : 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  22. Deaths Resulting From a Single Drug by Type and Sex, NC Medical Examiner Records: 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  23. Unintentional Deaths from a Single Drug: Illicit Drugs, North Carolina, 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  24. Unintentional Deaths from a Single Drug: Licit Drugs North Carolina, 1997-2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  25. Unintentional Deaths from Multiple Drugs:North Carolina, 1997-2001 No. deaths = 316 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  26. 1997 2001 Number Change % change from 97 to 01 % of overall increase All Poisoning deaths 117 226 109 93% ----- Methadone 7 58 51 729% 46.7% All Rx Narcotics 32 128 96 300% 88.1% Deaths Resulting From a Single Drug (n=780): Change from 1997 to 2001 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  27. Why Methadone? • Relatively effective AND cheap analgesic; • Reluctance of some MD’s to prescribe other synthetic opioids (e.g., oxycodone); • Relatively few side effects; no euphoria - The Catch 22 • Very long half-life; • Idiosyncratic metabolism; requires careful follow-up first couple of weeks. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  28. The Source of the Methadone? • Probably not the OTP clinics-diversion not thought to be prevalent in NC; • Likely diversion from prescriptions for abuse - recreation or to compensate for no heroin; • Likely misuse for pain management. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  29. 3. Creation of Task Force on Unintentional Drug Overdoses • Created by Secretary of NC-DHHS, Nov. 2002 • Mission: study epidemic and develop recommendations to identify, reduce and ultimately prevent unintentional deaths from the use of illicit and licit drugs. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  30. North Carolina Task Force to Prevent Deaths from Unintentional Drug Overdoses Medical Practice Law and Criminal Justice State and Federal Law Enforcement Toxicology Co-chaired by State Epidemiologist and Ass’t Director SBI Pharmacy Public Health Mental Health Medical Examiners Epidemiologic Surveillance Substance Abuse Services Injury Prevention Specialists NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  31. Results of Task Force to Prevent Deaths from Unintentional Drug Overdoses • Met for 15 months. • Report sent to DHHS and DOJ, April 2004. • Findings described an increasing epidemic of deaths from unintentional drug overdoses in NC. • 48 Recommendations to prevent or mitigate deaths: • State infrastructure to focus on prevention; surveillance, law enforcement, legislation, education for professionals, education for public, and clinical intervention. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  32. Three Dimensional Haddon Matrix Adapted from Runyan, CW. Injury Prevention, 1998(4), 302-307 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  33. 4. MMWR on Unintentional Drug Overdoses in 11 states • Concomitant research within the state and with other states on increases in unintentional drug-related deaths. • Findings continued to support increasing deaths. • Published MMWR: March 26, 2004 (vol.53#11). NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  34. 5. Task Force Recommendations • Submitted to Secretary of NC-DHHS and Attorney General of NC-DOJ, April 2004. • 48 recommendations: no defeats; never more than one “no” vote; primary objections from pharmacy representatives. • Harm Reduction could not be included due to funding constraints. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  35. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • LEADERSHIPrecommendations create a joint DHHS and DOJ leadership structure for oversight of all surveillance, intervention and enforcement activities related to preventing unintentional drug overdoses. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  36. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • SURVEILLANCErecommendations compile and monitor data relevant to unintentional overdoses that are provided to the DHHS/DOJ Leadership Committee at least four times a year. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  37. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • LAW ENFORCEMENTrecommendations provide infrastructure to prevent illegal distribution and use of controlled medications. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  38. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE recommendations create requirements and regulations necessary to implement surveillance activities, create fines to help finance the system and improve access to treatment services. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  39. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS – GENERAL PUBLIC recommendations to raise public awareness about the magnitude, risks and signs of unintentional overdose, preventive behaviors and precautions, and available emergency treatment and law enforcement resources. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  40. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS – PROFESSIONALS recommendations to raise professional awareness about the magnitude, risks and signs of unintentional overdose and create practice guidelines and educational and credentialling requirements for prevention, treatment and enforcement activities. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  41. NC Drug Task Force Recommendations • CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS- Recommendations to expand forgery notification systems, improve emergency provider preparedness, increase resources for recovering addicts, and broaden the evidence base for implementing new, effective out-patient and in-patient treatment programs. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  42. 6. NC-DOJ/DHHS Leadership Committee on Drug Overdoses • Recommendations premised on a state infra-structure to focus on implementing recommendations. • MOU required between NC-DOJ and DHHS, and signed August 2004. • Committee convened October 2004; meets quarterly. • Representation from Law Enforcement; Mental Health, Public Health, Clinical Practice, Pharmacy Practice with IVPB facilitator. • Focus for 2005: surveillance and enabling legislation for a controlled substance reporting system NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  43. 7. Year 1 Leadership Committee Priorities: Surveillance and PMP Legislation • Injury surveillance from death certificates and hospital discharge data on drug-related events; on-going. New data available from Poison Control Center and Emergency Department databases. • Enabling legislation required for monitoring prescriptions of controlled substances. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  44. SURVEILLANCE NC Resident Deaths Due to Poisoning by Manner/Intent: 1997 – 2004 NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  45. LEGISLATION Naming the PMP • A controlled substance reporting (CSR) System is a system into which prescription data for designated schedules of controlled substances are reported by dispensers to a central location where the information is entered into an electronic database. • North Carolina would report Schedules II-V prescriptions dispensed on an out-patient basis. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  46. LEGISLATION Being Politically Savvy • Established leadership authority. • Reviewed the history of past failures. • Identified stakeholders. • Identified credible spokespersons. • Identified the opposition. • Identified House and Senate sponsors. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  47. LEGISLATION What did we do differently? • Re-cast the CSR System as a public health initiative, but … • Agreed to have legislation submitted as a revision of the Controlled Substances Law. • Worked through the NC-DHHS legislative liaison and legal counsel in DPH. • Included legislation as a special amendment to the state budget. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

  48. Next Steps • Have legislative rules adopted from the Mental Health Commission. • Apply for implementation funding from national sources. • Establish a CSR System Advisory Board. • Design the actual database. • Continue the collaboration between DMH, DPH and DOJ in North Carolina. NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 10/27/2005

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