Wunsch Martha J, Nakamoto Kent, Behonick George, Massello William
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Am J Addict. 2009 Jan-Feb;18(1):5-14. doi: 10.1080/10550490802544938.
In rural Virginia, drug overdose deaths increased 300% from 1997 to 2003. Polydrug deaths predominate (57.9%) in this review of 893 medical examiner cases. Prescription opioids (74.0%), antidepressants (49.0%), and benzodiazepines (39.3%) were more prevalent than illicit drugs. Two-thirds of decedents were 35-54 years old; 37% were female. When compared to western Virginia metropolitan cases, polydrug abuse was more common, specific medication combinations were found, the death rate per population was higher, and fewer illicit drugs were detected. These rural prescription overdose deaths differ from urban illicit drug deaths, suggesting the need for different strategies in prevention, treatment, and intervention by clinicians and policymakers.
在弗吉尼亚州农村地区，1997年至2003年期间药物过量致死人数增加了300%。在对893例法医案例的审查中，多药致死情况占主导（57.9%）。处方类阿片（74.0%）、抗抑郁药（49.0%）和苯二氮䓬类药物（39.3%）比非法药物更为普遍。三分之二的死者年龄在35至54岁之间；37%为女性。与弗吉尼亚州西部大城市的案例相比，多药滥用更为常见，发现了特定的药物组合，人均死亡率更高，且检测到的非法药物更少。这些农村地区的处方药物过量致死情况与城市非法药物致死情况不同，这表明临床医生和政策制定者在预防、治疗及干预方面需要采取不同的策略。
