Background: There were approximately 46,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2017. It is known that opioid overdose risk is increased in patients with a diagnosis of substance use disorder, prior opioid overdose, and high suspicion of risk as assessed by clinical teams. The Risk Index for Overdose or Serious Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (RIOSORD) is a validated [...]

Background: Deaths caused by drug overdose continue to be a public health crisis and contribute to overall mortality and the lowering of life expectancy in the United States. In 2021, the number of drug overdose deaths surged to nearly 107,000 nationally and more than 5,800 in New York State (NYS). Little is known about the [...]

Background: While prescription opioids have a role in treating certain pain conditions, their injudicious use has led to an epidemic with myriad adverse outcomes. We sought to evaluate the association of socioeconomic and racial disparities with healthcare utilization and outcomes in opioid overdose related hospitalizations using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2012 through 2014. [...]

Background: Drug overdose deaths involving opioids are on the rise in the setting of the current opioid epidemic in the United States (US).1 In 2017 there were ~46.6 drug overdose deaths a day in the US involving prescription opioids.1 Naloxone is a proven and effective opioid antagonist that is FDA approved for use in the [...]

Background: Driven by the current opioid epidemic, drug overdose has become the leading cause of unintentional death nationwide. Efforts are underway to decrease unnecessary opioid prescribing. Hospitalists care for many patients with preexisting opioid prescriptions or appropriately prescribed new opioids at discharge. Though naloxone decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdose, most patients [...]

Background: Opioid overdose in the United States continues to rise. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that is FDA-approved for reversing opioid overdose. Current CDC guidelines recommend prescribing naloxone to patients at high risk of opioid overdose, including patients with concurrent benzodiazepine use, a prior history of overdose, and those receiving high doses of opioids (>50 [...]

Background: Background Fatalities caused by drug-overdose have increased in recent years across the US and are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Drug related deaths with cointoxicants are being seen more often and the increase in prevalence of opioid overdoses with possible concomitant medication use is a public health concern [...]

Background: An estimated 68,000 Americans died of opioid-related overdoses between March 2017-2018. In Monroe County NY heroin/fentanyl deaths are up 200% from 2015- 2017. Guidelines recommending naloxone co-prescription for high-risk patients on opioid pain medications have been issued. The inpatient setting provides unique opportunities for identifying patients at risk for opioid adverse events (OAE) and [...]

Background: Drug overdose deaths are increasing throughout the country. Increasing naloxone availability is a cost-effective way to prevent opioid-related deaths. High-risk patients admitted in the hospital may benefit from a take-home naloxone prescription. This study aims to assess naloxone prescribing practices upon hospital discharge. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to attendings, residents, and advanced [...]

Case Presentation: The patient is a 13-year-old female with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression who presented following an intentional overdose of her lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse™). She admitted to taking 15 – 40mg tablets in addition to 5 tablets of an unknown, over the counter sleep aid. She developed dizziness and mild non-radiating substernal chest pressure 10-15 [...]