Inconsistencies in reporting may mean opioid deaths are undercounted
Drug-related deaths more than tripled between 1999 and 2015—and many of those can be attributed to opioids. But the numbers may be more alarming than previously thought, according to a new report from Kaiser Health News and Side Effects Public Media.
Because of inconsistent reporting and testing methods, opioid-related overdoses are undercounted by 25 and 35 percent. The numbers reflect findings from a February study in Addiction
“We have a real crisis, and one of the things we need to invest in, if we’re going to make progress, is getting better information,” said Christopher Ruhm, the author of the paper and an economist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Read more at Kaiser Health News below:
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.