Drug overdose deaths in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1996 to 2010 : a descriptive and comparative study

Abstract

Drug overdose death is an increasing concern in many areas of the world and many prevention programs exist to control these deaths. These include prescription monitoring programs, Naloxone treatment, safer injection facilities and methadone treatment. It is prescription drug overdose deaths which are becoming more prevalent and therefore these prevention programs must be adjusted to fit the on going problems. This can be done by examining trends in overdose deaths. The purpose of this study is to examine drug overdose deaths in Halifax, Nova Scotia, between 1996 and 2010 with respect to death rate, drug prevalence and manner of death. This data is compared to a previous study in Halifax from 1993 to 1995. It was found that death rates (per 100,000 persons) due to drug overdose have increased since 1993. Narcotic analgesics and benzodiazepine were the most prevalent drug categories found in toxicology reports and also increased significantly between the two studies. Cocaine usage also increased. In manner of death comparison a significant decrease in undetermined deaths was seen with a simultaneous increase in accidents. Based on this drug overdose death data, focus can be directed to the areas which are increasing the most, i.e. prescription drug use, as well as be able to adjust prevention programs to help with these areas.