@article{ref1,
title="Suspected opioid-related emergency medical services encounters in a rural state, 1997-2002",
journal="Prehospital emergency care",
year="2004",
author="Alexander, J. L. and Burton, John H. and Bradshaw, J. R. and Colin, F.",
volume="8",
number="4",
pages="427-430",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: News organizations and governmental agencies have reported substantial increases in the number of opioid-related overdose cases in recent years. OBJECTIVE: To describe the utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) for suspected opioid-related overdose cases in a rural state during the period 1997 through 2002. METHODS: Statewide EMS records were reviewed for 1997 through 2002. Data reviewed included prehospital diagnosis and medications given to all patients by prehospital providers. For cases with a prehospital diagnosis of poisoning or overdose, data reviewed included medications given to patients by prehospital providers, pupil size, and respiratory rate. All records were reviewed in a defined sequence. RESULTS: The study period encompassed 1,175,781 patient encounters. Poisoning or overdose patients accounted for 19,808 (1.7%) encounters. Naloxone was administered by the EMS provider to 2,668 (0.2%) patients. For all poisoning or overdose patients, 1,308 (6.6%) had miotic pupils, 450 (2.2%) had a respiratory rate of &lt;12 breaths/min, and 1,569 (7.9%) received naloxone. During the investigation period, total EMS patient encounters increased 25%, while patients with a complaint of poisoning or overdose increased 47%. The incidences of EMS overdose patients with miotic pupils, respiratory rate &lt;10 breaths/min, and naloxone administration increased 167%, 295%, and 154%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this rural state, prehospital patients with findings suspicious for opioid overdose disproportionately outpaced the growth of all EMS encounters as well as general overdose encounters during the defined investigation period.<br />",
language="",
issn="1090-3127",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}