Polysubstance Use and Overdose Visualized via Maps: Opioids

Polysubstance (combinations of substances) abuse and overdose deaths now surpass mono-substance abuse and overdose deaths. Several international and governmental organizations such as the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), several of the Institutes of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), Regulators, and Enforcement Agencies, among others, track and provide a valuable source of statistical information about drug (prescription and illicit) (mis)use and overdose. The information is disseminated free to stakeholders and the general public for use. Although the numeric presentations of the data are helpful and adequate for professionals, the non-expert and the visual learner often find visual representation more clear and more compelling. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to present polysubstance use and overdose using visual maps of the available data. This article considers the opioids.