Tri-state Analysis of Prescription and Illicit Drug Overdose

• In Event: 164 - Regular Session. Substance Use, Abuse, and Treatment

Abstract

Efforts to understand substance use and drug overdose have increasingly focused on individual-level factors. The current analysis examines the social environment contributing to drug overdose for the state of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, by examining the role of county-level risk factors. Using a negative binomial regression analysis, relevant factors, such as poverty and social capital (e.g., education, employment) are analyzed. Data comes from multiple sources, including the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the 2005 U.S. Census. Findings suggest that fewer overdose deaths are observed in counties that have higher levels of social capital. Findings also show that urban counties are at greater risk for elevated prescription and illicit drug-overdose. Thus, social capital plays an influential role in creating social environments that affect the health and well-being of residents.

Author

• Carmela Marie Roybal, University of New Mexico