2021 AM Posters-Are Annual Overdose Deaths for High-Risk Drugs Impacting

Are Annual Overdose Deaths for High-Risk Drugs Impacting

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A study was conducted to explore the relationship between internet search popularity and deaths associated with drug overdoses. The researchers analyzed Google Trends (GT) scores for the topics "Overdose," "Opioid," "Fentanyl," "Heroin," and the drug class "Benzodiazepine" from 2004 to 2019, comparing them to deaths attributed to Total Overdoses, Any Opioids, Synthetic Opioids (primarily Fentanyl), Heroin, and Benzodiazepines, respectively, using data from the CDC National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). <br /><br />The results showed a direct relationship between overdose deaths and GT scores, indicating that the public seeks out information more when overdoses increase, irrespective of drug legality. The correlation coefficients between GT scores and deaths for Any Opioids and Benzodiazepine were 0.951 and 0.929, respectively, suggesting a strong positive correlation. For Fentanyl and Heroin, the correlation coefficients were 0.989 and 0.741, respectively, indicating a moderately strong positive correlation.<br /><br />The study highlights the importance of online information accessibility and quality as the overdose situation continues. With increasing awareness, it is crucial to evaluate the accessibility and reliability of online information to ensure optimal self-education for patients, their families, and the general public.<br /><br />Overall, the study provides insights into the relationship between internet search behavior and drug overdose deaths. The findings suggest that online search patterns can serve as predictors of opioid-related emergency visits and hospital admissions, emphasizing the potential role of internet data in monitoring and addressing drug overdoses.

Keywords

internet search popularity

drug overdoses

Google Trends scores

Opioid

Fentanyl

Heroin

Benzodiazepine

correlation coefficients

online information accessibility

opioid-related emergency visits

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