TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Comparison of opioid-related deaths by work-related injury
JO  - American journal of industrial medicine
A1  - Cheng, Melissa
A1  - Sauer, Brian
A1  - Johnson, Erin
A1  - Porucznik, Christina
A1  - Hegmann, Kurt T.
SP  - 308
EP  - 316
VL  - 56
IS  - 3
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To infer whether work-related injuries may impact opioid-related deaths. METHODS: Descriptive comparisons were done using data from the Utah Department of Health, the Office of Medical Examiners, and the Labor Commission on all Utah residents who died from opioid-related deaths from 2008 to 2009. RESULTS: The majority of decedents (145 of 254, 57%) had at least one prior work-related injury. Demographics were similar regardless of work injury status. However, lack of high school diploma (18% vs. 7%, P < 0.001), prevalence of mental illness (50% vs. 15%, P < 0.001), tobacco (61% vs. 12%, P < 0.001), alcohol (87% vs. 28%, P < 0.001), and illicit drug (50% vs. 4%, P < 0.001) use were all substantially higher than the background population. CONCLUSION: A detailed history and screening for mental illness and substance abuse, including tobacco use, among injured workers may be helpful in avoiding potential opioid-related deaths. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0271-3586
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22138
ID  - ref1
ER  -