Unintentional Poisoning

Poisoning, largely due to prescription drug and heroin overdoses, has erupted as a public health epidemic across the nation and in North Carolina. In particular, opioid pain medication deaths involving drugs such as methadone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone have increased significantly in the state.

Notable Facts

• Prescription opioid pain medications are responsible for more deaths in North Carolina than heroin and cocaine combined (NC IVPB, 2016b)
• Unintentional poisoning death rates increase with age, peaking between the ages of 45-54 (23.3 per 100,000 persons), and then decrease after age 55 (NC IVPB, 2016b)
• Between August 1, 2013 and June 30, 2016, there were more than 3,400 drug overdose reversals performed in North Carolina using naloxone distributed through the NC Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC, n.d.)

Goal

• Reduce the mortality rate of unintentional poisoning from 10.6 to 9.9 per 100,000 people (NC IVPB, 2016b)

Prevention Strategies

1. Facilitate collaboration and communication between state and local government agencies, nonprofit and private organizations, academia, law enforcement, state licensure boards, and community coalitions
2. Increase data access, utilization, and integration for surveillance, prevention, treatment, evaluation and research
3. Promote best practices and evidence-based programs to prevent unintentional poisonings
4. Provide training and education tailored to policymakers, medical providers, pharmacies, community groups, and law enforcement
5. Evaluate the effects of laws, policies, regulations, and community intervention
6. Disseminate materials effective in reducing unintentional poisonings

Indicators of Progress

• Formation of NC Department of Health and Human Services Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory Committee
• Creation and implementation of action plans based on goals from the NC Strategic Plan to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse
• Completion of activities outlined in the Evaluation Plan for the CDC Prevention for States Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention cooperative agreement, awarded to the NC Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch

Potential Implementing Agencies

• Carolinas Poison Center
• Community Care of NC
• Fayetteville Police Department
• LEAD Program
• Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse
• Local Health Departments
• Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations
• NC Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
• NC Board of Nursing
• NC Board of Pharmacy
• NC Board of Podiatry Examiners
• NC Controlled Substances Reporting System
• NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services
• NC Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
• NC Harm Reduction Coalition
• NC Medical Board
• NC Medical Society
• NC Office of Rural Health
• NC State Board of Dental Examiners
• Operation Medicine Drop, Safe Kids NC
• The Pain Society of the Carolinas
• Project Lazarus, Inc.
• State Bureau of Investigation
• UNC Injury Prevention Research Center
• Urban Survivors Union