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Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.

Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change from previous measurement period.

green chart bars Significantly better than the overall value

red chart bars Significantly worse than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

Death Rate due to Heroin Overdose

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Measurement Period: 2023

Filter: none (all Counties)

This indicator shows the death rate per 100,000 population due to heroin overdose.

Why is this important?

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug that affects the central nervous system and has a high potential for abuse. Chronic heroin use results in many damaging effects including physical dependence, tolerance, and deterioration of the brain's white matter while heroin overdose can cause slow and shallow breathing, coma, and death. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine used to treat severe pain in patients. However, due to its heroin-like effects, illegally made fentanyl is sold for illicit use and is most commonly linked to fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death. Heroin and illicit-fentanyl are often mixed or used along with other drugs, increasing the risk of overdose.

Heroin and illegally made fentanyl use have been increasing in recent years. From 2010 to 2016, the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths increased fivefold. Similarly, the rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, including fentanyl doubled from 2015-2016. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Opioid abuse is a serious public health issue, but preventive actions, treatment for addiction, and proper response to overdoses can help.

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