From 1999 through 2006, this dataset contains fatal poisoning counts involving opioid analgesics from the National Vital Statistics System Mortality File. The number of such deaths more than tripled from 4,000 to 13,800 during this period. It was authored by Margaret Warner of the National Center for Health Statistics.
Use Cases
- Analyzing trends in fatal opioid analgesic poisonings based on the reported death counts from 1999 to 2006.
- Investigating demographic disparities in poisoning mortality based on the described rates for males, persons aged 35-54, and non-Hispanic white persons.
- Studying polydrug involvement in fatal poisonings based on the mention of benzodiazepines frequently specified alongside opioid analgesics.
- Comparing state-level variations in poisoning death rates based on the more than eightfold difference among states reported for 2006.
Strengths
- Provides specific death counts for 1999 (4,000) and 2006 (13,800), showing a clear trend.
- Includes demographic breakdowns for 2006, such as rates being higher for males, persons aged 35-54, and non-Hispanic white persons.
- Notes the involvement of multiple drug types, with benzodiazepines specified most frequently alongside opioids.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
- Source
- National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System Mortality File
- Collection Method
- Administrative records from the national vital statistics system.
- Time Range
- 1999-2006
- Geography
- United States, with state-level variation noted