Drug overdose is one of the most common causes of death.
Worldwide, approximately 600,000 deaths were due to drug overdose in 2019. WHO.
A blog about The mental elf states that there is evidence that the risk of overdose is increased among some healthcare workers (HCWs).
For example, a population-based cohort study in the United States of America found that counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other community and social workers are more than twice as likely to experience a fatal drug overdose as people who work outside the health care system.
Meanwhile, others estimate that 8-15% of physicians suffer from a substance use disorder.
Addressing this knowledge gap is a necessary step toward developing evidence-based overdose prevention strategies and targeted support for healthcare providers living with addiction.
Because it is difficult to collect data directly from healthcare professionals struggling with addiction, the researchers collected data from the National Substance Use Mortality Program (NPSUM).
They used a systematic strategy to look for reported deaths among healthcare workers involving illicit substances and licensed drugs (excluding nicotine, caffeine and alcohol if not associated with other substances).
Deaths are voluntarily reported to the NPSUM by coroners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are based on medical records, post-mortem examinations and reports from witnesses, family and friends, and emergency services.
Samples were taken from reports from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2022.
Fifty-eight reports were included in the analysis and consisted of: 47 (81%) were employed as healthcare workers at the time of their death; 3 (5%) retirees; 4 (7%) are ill for a long time; 2 (3%) students; 2 (3%) non-clinical staff.
Opioids were the most commonly involved drug, mentioned in 25 (43%) cases, followed by benzodiazepines in 14 (24%) cases. The remaining three deaths were attributed to illegal drugs.
