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 Organizatio...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.展开更多
Abuse of drug substances and resultant overdose deaths are no longer very straightforward—viz., attributable to a single chemical entity of known purity. The reality is that most overdose deaths involve polysubstance...Abuse of drug substances and resultant overdose deaths are no longer very straightforward—viz., attributable to a single chemical entity of known purity. The reality is that most overdose deaths involve polysubstance use (i.e., the use of combinations of substances). Further, the combinations are often of unknown purity, and even of unknown composition. Overdose deaths are at all-time highs. The depressing statistics are monitored and reported by several international and governmental organizations such as the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), several Institutes of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), Regulators, and Enforcement Agencies (e.g., DEA). The information is disseminated for free for review and use. But it is our observation that although numeric presentation is helpful and adequate for professionals, the non-expert and the visual learner often find a visual representation clearer and compelling. With this in mind, we present the “gestalt” of polysubstance use and overdose using available maps of the data. The previous article in the series considered the opioids. This one considers amphetamines and cocaine, and places the rise in opioid-associated overdose deaths in the context of other abused drugs.展开更多
文摘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.
文摘Abuse of drug substances and resultant overdose deaths are no longer very straightforward—viz., attributable to a single chemical entity of known purity. The reality is that most overdose deaths involve polysubstance use (i.e., the use of combinations of substances). Further, the combinations are often of unknown purity, and even of unknown composition. Overdose deaths are at all-time highs. The depressing statistics are monitored and reported by several international and governmental organizations such as the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), several Institutes of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), Regulators, and Enforcement Agencies (e.g., DEA). The information is disseminated for free for review and use. But it is our observation that although numeric presentation is helpful and adequate for professionals, the non-expert and the visual learner often find a visual representation clearer and compelling. With this in mind, we present the “gestalt” of polysubstance use and overdose using available maps of the data. The previous article in the series considered the opioids. This one considers amphetamines and cocaine, and places the rise in opioid-associated overdose deaths in the context of other abused drugs.
