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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce overdose deaths involving natural and semisynthetic opioids — IVP‑21 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Sources:  National Vital Statistics System - Mortality (NVSS-M), CDC/NCHS; Population Estimates, Census

Baseline: 3.8 deaths per 100,000 population were caused by an overdose involving natural and semisynthetic opioids in 2018

Target: 3.4 per 100,000

Numerator
Number of overdose deaths involving natural and semisynthetic opioids (ICD-10 code: T40.2 in any field of the multiple cause of death file) among deaths with an underlying external cause-of-injury (ICD-10 codes: X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, Y10–Y14).
Denominator
Number of persons.
Target-setting method
Percent improvement
Target-setting method details
10 percent improvement from the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective, but it was not possible to project a target because the trend was moving away from the desired direction. A 10 percent improvement from the baseline was used to calculate a target. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. In addition, interventions such as prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), opioid prescribing guidelines, overdose education and naloxone distribution, state policies regulating pain clinics, and insurance formulary management are promising strategies that help address this issue.

Methodology

Methodology notes

Deaths are classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD–10). Drug overdose deaths are identified using underlying cause-of-death codes X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14. The numerator will include drug overdose deaths that have natural and semi-synthetic opioids ["other opioids"] (T40.2) as a contributing cause using the multiple cause of death file.

Age-adjustment notes

This indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Sex: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Race/Ethnicity: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Geographic Location: <5, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Marital Status: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.