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DiGennaro C, Garcia GP, Stringfellow EJ, et al. Changes in characteristics of drug overdose death trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Drug Policy. 2021;98:103392doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392.
DiGennaro, C., Garcia, G. P., Stringfellow, E. J., Wakeman, S., & Jalali, M. S. (2021). Changes in characteristics of drug overdose death trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International journal on drug policy, 98103392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392
DiGennaro, Catherine, et al. "Changes in characteristics of drug overdose death trends during the COVID-19 pandemic." The International journal on drug policy vol. 98 (2021): 103392. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392
DiGennaro C, Garcia GP, Stringfellow EJ, Wakeman S, Jalali MS. Changes in characteristics of drug overdose death trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Drug Policy. 2021 Dec;98:103392. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392. Epub 2021 Jul 20. PMID: 34325184.
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Int J Drug Policy. 2021 Dec;98:103392. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392. Epub 2021 Jul 20.

Changes in characteristics of drug overdose death trends during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International journal on drug policy

Catherine DiGennaro, Gian-Gabriel P Garcia, Erin J Stringfellow, Sarah Wakeman, Mohammad S Jalali

Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34325184 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103392

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reports analyzing drug overdose (OD) mortality data during the COVID-19 pandemic are limited. Outcomes across states are heterogenous, necessitating assessments of associations between COVID-19 and OD deaths on a state-by-state level. This report aims to analyze trends in OD deaths in Massachusetts during COVID-19.

METHODS: Analyzing 3,924 death records, we characterize opioid-, cocaine-, and amphetamine-involved OD mortality and substance co-presence trends from March 24-November 8 in 2020 as compared to 2018 and 2019.

RESULTS: OD deaths involving amphetamines increased by 85% from 2019 to 2020 (61 vs. 113; P<0.001) but were steady from 2018 to 2019. Heroin's presence continued to decrease (341 in 2018, 247 in 2019, 157 in 2020; P<0.001); however, fentanyl was present in more than 85% of all OD deaths across all periods. Among OD deaths, alcohol involvement consistently increased, present in 250 deaths in 2018, 299 in 2019 (P=0.02), and 350 in 2020 (P=0.04). In 2019, 78% of OD decedents were White and 7% were Black, versus 73% and 10% in 2020 (P=0.02).

CONCLUSION: Increased deaths involving stimulants, alcohol, and fentanyl reflect concerning trends in the era of COVID-19. Rising OD death rates among Black residents underscore that interventions focused on racial equity are necessary.

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Alcohol; COVID-19; Fentanyl; Opioids; Overdose death; Stimulants

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations of Interest The authors declare no competing interests.

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