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Associations of State-Level Rates of Depression and Fatal Opioid Overdose, 2011-2015

AJAS · 2018 Behavioural and Social Sciences (inferred)

Madeline Foley · Bronx, NY

Overview

As the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids has increased by 200% since the year 2000, the United States is currently faced with an alarming crisis. Despite knowledge of this growing problem, few studies have been done to investigate the possible connection between opioid deaths and mental health, particularly depression. Our objective was to assess the relationship between state-level depression and opioid overdose rates between 2011 and 2015; state rates of depression symptoms were drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and opioid deaths, which included deaths due to pharmaceutical and illicit opioid analgesics, were abstracted from CDC WONDER. We conducted an analysis using negative binomial generalized estimating equations (GEE), which accounted for state, year, and other relevant covariates, as well as three sensitivity analyses. A one percentage point increase in state-level depression diagnoses was associated with a 26% (95%CI: 1%-58%) increase in opioid analgesic-related death rates after adjusting for general health, rates of uninsured persons, and state medical marijuana policies. This relationship persisted in deaths due to unintentional opioid analgesic deaths and overdose deaths due to any opioid. As the opioid epidemic in the United States continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, these findings, in combination with prior research, support the need for interventions to ameliorate this public health crisis. Safe opioid prescribing practices for individuals with depression, continued screening for depression among those taking opioids, as well as increased access to mental health services may decrease legal access to the drug and ultimately reduce death from opioid overdose.

Competition history

  • AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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Source: AAAS Annual Meeting (Confex) / American Junior Academy of Science

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