US opioid epidemic reaches new level of crisis in overdoses, hospitalizations and cost

(American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) 'We found a 34 percent increase in overdose-related ICU admissions while ICU opioid deaths nearly doubled during that same period,' according to Dr. Lena Novack, Ph.D., a lecturer in BGU's School of Public Health. The mortality rates of these patients climbed at roughly the same rate, on average, with a steeper rise in deaths of patients admitted to the ICU for overdose after 2012.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2vCaIQZ