MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

1. Community-Based Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs Providing Naloxone — United States, 20101

Harm Reduction Coalition
Drug Overdose Prevention and Education (DOPE) Project Manager
(510) 444-6969 EXT. 16

Providing opioid overdose education and naloxone to persons who use drugs, their friends and families can help reduce opioid overdose mortality, a rapidly growing public health concern. In 2008, a total of 36,450 drug overdose deaths were reported in the United States, with prescription opioids (e.g., oxycodone, morphine, methadone), heroin and cocaine the drugs most commonly involved. In response, community-based programs train individuals how to respond to overdoses and provide them with naloxone to rapidly reverse the potentially fatal respiratory depression caused by opioids. Naloxone is the drug that is used by medical providers to revive individuals who are experiencing an opioid overdose. As of October 2010, at least 188 community-based opioid overdose prevention programs in 15 US states and the District of Columbia have provided training and naloxone to at least 53,032 people. Since 1996, the programs have reported at least 10,171 overdose reversals using naloxone.

2. Ectopic Pregnancy Mortality — Florida, 2009–2010

Florida Department of Health
Media Relations
(850) 245-4444 EXT. 2121

Florida’s ectopic pregnancy mortality ratio increased 4-fold in 2009 and 2010.  When compared to 1999-2008, the ectopic pregnancy mortality ratios in 2009-2010 were significantly higher among women who were non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, unmarried, without health insurance or plan, and less than a high school education.  The increase in ectopic pregnancy mortality appears to be associated with illicit drug use and delays in seeking health care.  The findings underscore the importance of ongoing, state-based identification and review of pregnancy-related deaths.  Efforts to prevent ectopic pregnancy deaths need to promote awareness about early pregnancy testing and ectopic pregnancy risk, ensure early access to care, and take actions to reduce illicit drug use.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES