Data and Statistics:
Sources and Terminology
• Death Data is from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, MDPH
• Acute Care Inpatient Hospitalizations, Observation Stays, and Emergency Department Data is from the MA Division of Health Care Finance and Policy
• The term “poisoning” includes drug overdoses. Poisonings can be fatal or nonfatal. Some drugs can be taken for both recreational or therapeutic purposes (e.g.
Oxycontin), others are strictly nontherapeutic (Heroin).
Poisoning Deaths in Relation to Injury Deaths from Other Causes,
MA Residents, 2006 (Total N= 2,910)
Poisoning is the LEADING CAUSE of injury death among MA residents (age adjusted rate 14.9 per 100,000 residents in 2005 vs. 10.9 per 100,000 in U.S. in 2005).
The leading cause of injury death nationally is motor vehicle-traffic. Healthy People 2010 objective 15.8: Reduce deaths due to poisoning to 1.5 per 100,000.
Trend in Age Adjusted All Poisoning and Opioid-related Poisoning Death Rate, MA Residents, 1990-2006
MA poisoning death rates increased 166% from 1990-2006, largely driven by increase in opioid poisonings.
In 2006, 64% of fatal poisonings were associated with an opioid. 88% of poisoning deaths in 2006 were classified as unintentional or undetermined intent; 12% were classified as suicide.
Age Adjusted All - and Opioid-related Poisoning Death Rates, Quincy, Metrowest, and All MA, 2006
Crude Rates of Acute Care Hospital Visits* Associated with Nonfatal Opioid Poisoning, Quincy and All MA Residents, FY 2006
MA Department of Public Health Injury Data Resources:
Injury Surveillance Program
617-624-5648
Injury Prevention and Control Program
617-624-5466
Mass CHIP (on-line query system)
Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention Serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island
24 hr Hotline 1-800-222-1222
Overview
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