2. Special Thanks
Thanks to Patty Schachtner, ME, for allowing access to the
death records through this internship and for advice on
research topics
Thanks to Betsy Gerbec, PhD, for her assistance in obtaining
this internship and for advice on research topics
3. Introduction
Purpose of Study: To determine whether or not the number of
non-alcoholic, drug-related deaths occurring in St. Croix
County, WI, from 2010 to 2015 was increasing
Particular emphasis was placed on sex and age distribution of
deaths, as well as the type of drugs most commonly used
Data collected using death records made available by the
Office of the Medical Examiner for St. Croix County
4. Important Notes
This study is an initial report of recent data. Much more data is needed to
determine St. Croix County’s drug-related death situation.
All data obtained was kept anonymous.
The author, over the course of the research, had to make judgment calls
regarding how to qualify and quantify data. Thus, this data was organized
to the best of the author’s ability. However, extenuating circumstances may
skew the final results.
In an attempt to maintain anonymity, the author did not notate whether
these deaths were the result of accident or suicide. Moreover, many
records did not indicate one way or another, so data regarding manner of
death is not included in this study.
5. Number of Deaths in Total vs. Non-
Alcoholic, Drug-Related Deaths per
Year (2010-2015)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
Total
Deaths Per
Year
326 373 370 393 443 504 2409
Drug-
Related
1 4 5 10 14 9 43
6. 326
373 370
393
443
504
1 4 5 10 14 9
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
NUMBEROFDEATHS
YEAR
Total Number of Deaths vs. Drug-Related Deaths from 2010 to 2015
Total Deaths Per Year Drug-Related
7. Number of Drug-Related Deaths per
100 total deaths (2010-2015)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Per 100 0.30674847 1.072386 1.351351 2.544529 3.160271 1.785714
0.306748466
1.072386059
1.351351351
2.544529262
3.16027088
1.785714286
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
NUMBEROFDRUG-RELATEDDEATHSPER100TOTALDEATHS
YEAR
Number of Drug-Related Deaths per 100 Total Deaths by Year (2010-
2015)
8. Drug-Related Deaths by Gender (2010-2015)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
Male 1 1 4 8 11 6 31
Female 0 3 1 2 3 3 12
1 1
4
8
11
6
0
3
1
2
3 3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
NUMBEROFDRUG-RELATEDDEATHS
YEAR
Male vs. Female Drug-Related Deaths from 2010 to 2015
Male Female
9. Drug Related Deaths by Age (2010-2015)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
10 to 20 0 0 1 1 2 0 4
20 to 30 1 3 1 1 4 2 12
30 to 40 0 0 1 2 3 2 8
40 to 50 0 1 1 1 1 3 7
50 to 60 0 0 0 3 1 2 6
60 to 70 0 0 1 1 3 0 5
70 to 80 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
10 to 20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40 to 50 50 to 60 60 to 70 70 to 80
NUMBEROFDRUG-RELATEDDEATHS
AGE RANGE
Total Number of Drug-Related Deaths by Age Range per Year (2010-
2015)
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
10. Deaths by Drug Type (2010-2015)
Drug Type
Number of
Deaths
Mixed 21
Narcotics/Opioids 10
THC 4
Antidepressants 3
Heroin 1
Diphenhydramine 1
Methanmphetamine 1
Amphetamine 1
Cocaine 1
21
10
4
3
1
1
1 1 1
Number of Deaths by Drug Type (2010-2015)
Mixed
Narcotics
THC
Antidepressants
Heroin
Diphenhydramine
Methanmphetamine
Amphetamine
Cocaine
11. Definition of Several Terms
“Mixed” refers to a death that involved 2 or more of the following
Cocaine
Heroin
Ethanol
Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety Medication
Narcotics/Opioids
Temazepam (Insomnia)
Methamphetamine
Amphetamine
Diphenylhydramine (Anti-histamine)
MDMA
Olanzapine (Anti-psychotic)
Barbituates
12. Definition of Several Terms
“Narcotics/opioids” can include any of the following drugs. A “death by
narcotics” is a death in which the main overdose agent was 1 of the
following
Morphine
Fentanyl
Oxycodone
Methadone
Tramadol
Oxymorphone
Hydromorphone
Hydrocodone
13. Definition of Several Terms
“Antidepressants” can refer to any of the following
Trazadone
Bupropin
Fluoxitine
Amitryptyline
“Anti-anxiety Medication” can refer to either of the following
Lorazepam
Diazepam
14. Inferences and Observations
Mixed drug overdoses were observed to primarily be the result of an
opioid/narcotic mixed with another type of medication or substance.
Nearly all mixed drug overdose deaths resulting from narcotics involved
medication prescribed to either the victim or someone the victim knew.
This data is concurrent with data collected by the CDC regarding opioid
overdose deaths from 1999 to 2014
15. Comparison to National Statistics
CDC Data (1999-2014)
165,000 deaths related to prescription opioid overdose
In 2014, 14,000 deaths
Most common drugs include methadone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone
Most common among persons aged 25 to 54 and non-Hispanic whites
More common in men, though the gender gap is closing
http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html
16. Comparison to National Statistics
Natural opioid analgesics,
including morphine and
codeine, and semi-synthetic
opioid analgesics, including
drugs such as oxycodone,
hydrocodone, hydromorphone,
and oxymorphone;
Methadone, a synthetic opioid;
Synthetic opioid analgesics other
than methadone, including
drugs such as tramadol and
fentanyl; and
Heroin, an illicit (illegally-made)
opioid synthesized from
morphine that can be a white or
brown powder, or a black sticky
substance.
http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdo
se/data/analysis.html
17. Comparison to National Statistics
Wisconsin as a whole has not seen a significant increase in drug overdose deaths from 2013 to
2014
Numbers are on the rise in other parts of the Midwest, indicative that drug overdose deaths
may become a more severe public health concern for WI in the near future as numbers
continue to rise in the surrounding states
http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html
State 2014 Rate 2014 Number 2014 Range 2013 Rate 2013 Number 2013 Range Change Significance
WI 15.1 853 13.6 to 16.0 15 856 13.6 to 16.0 0.7 Not
Significant
19. CDC-Recommended Prevention:
Strategies and Successes
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)
State-run databases for tracking controlled prescription drug prescriptions and
dispensations
Monitoring prescription history and identify high-risk patients
Prevention for States Prevention Strategy Program
Funded by the CDC, WI has been selected as a funded state
Provides money for state-wide programs
PDMPs
Community or Insurer/Health System Interventions
Policy Evaluations
Rapid Response Projects
http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/states/state_prevention.html
20. CDC-Recommended Prevention:
Strategies and Successes
Successful State Programs
Florida- 50% decrease in oxycodone deaths after establishing PDMP and pain
clinic regulation
New York- 75% decrease in repeat prescriptions to patients with multiple
prescribers after enforcing PDMP referrals
Tennessee- 36% decrease in repeat prescriptions to patients with multiple
prescribers after enforcing PDMP referrals
Oregon-38% decrease in prescription overdose and 58% decrease in
methadone poisoning after establishing PDMP and educating lay persons and
health care providers
http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/policy/successes.html
21. Conclusion
Though this is merely an initial, cursory analysis of non-alcoholic, drug-
related death trends, the findings are concurrent with data regarding the
national prescription drug overdose epidemic
A number of programs, particularly PDMPs and education programs, have
been shown to be beneficial in lowering incidence of prescription opioid
related deaths
Though WI has not seen a significant rise in drug-related deaths over the
last 2 years, it appears that the epidemic is beginning to grow in the
Midwest
It is the author’s sincerest hope that this information has been helpful in
evaluating St. Croix County’s drug-related death situation and in
determining steps for the future
22. Thank you for your time and attention.
Warren Taylor (2016)
