Overdoses and Related Deaths Indicator Description: OVERDOSES. This indicator shows the number of persons receiving help from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) related to an overdose in 2011 and 2012. Why Indicator is Important: Overdosing on a substance can cause serious physical harm resulting in hospitalization and even death. Responding to overdoses also uses valuable EMS resources. Data Source(s): Emergency Medical Services, 2011-2012 Summary: Alcohol and drugs or medications account for most overdoses to which Emergency Medical Services responded in 2012 and appear to be increasing. Alcohol-related overdoses are more prevalent among older populations, while drug/medication overdoses are more common among younger populations. Figure 38. Number of overdoses, by type: 2011 and 2012 Source: Emergency Medical Services, 2011 and 2012 In 2012, Emergency Medical Services helped 5,206 individuals experiencing an overdose. Individuals were primarily helped in relation to alcohol (2,118) and drugs or medication (1,953). These numbers have increased dramatically since 2011. Figure 39. Proportion of overdose responses, by age and type: 2011 Source: Emergency Medical Services, 2012 Overdoses related to drugs or medication were most likely among individuals between the ages of 26 and 45 (48%) followed by those under the age of 18 (44%). Alcohol-related overdoses were highest among 19 to 25 years old (49%), as well as among those over the age of 46 (42% and 46%). Indicator Description: DEATHS DUE TO OVERDOSE. This measure reflects the number of deaths where the cause of death was directly related to the consumption of one or more substances.
consequences. Generically, these causal factors (also known as contributing factors) are categorized into groups which include: Social Access (e.g., getting and alcohol from friends or family) Retail Availability (e.g., retailer not carding properly) Pricing & Promotion (e.g., two-for-one specials, industry sponsorships or signage) Social/Community Norms (e.g., parental/community attitudes and beliefs) Enforcement (e.g., lack of compliance checks) Perceptions of Harm (e.g., individuals’ belief that a substance is harmful) Perceived Risk of Being Caught (e.g., individuals’ belief that s/he will be caught by parents or police), Substance abuse prevention in Maine is undertaken with the assumption that making changes to these factors at the community level will result in changing behaviors around substance use and related problems. It is through positively impacting these factors that Maine can achieve population-level changes in substance consumption and consequences. Although most high school students seem to perceive that regular use of substances pose a risk of harm and that their parents and community think it is wrong, few think they will be caught by the police and most think it is easy to obtain alcohol and marijuana. Among adults, young adults are least likely to perceive risks of harm from using alcohol and marijuana regularly. Availability and Accessibility Indicator Description: EASE OF OBTAINING ALCOHOL BY UNDERAGE YOUTH. This indicator reflects the percentage of high school students (grades 9 to 12) who reported that it would be easy or very easy for them to get alcohol if they wanted some. Why Indicator is Important: In 2011, students who reported that they thought alcohol was easy to obtain were three times as likely to report consuming alcohol within the past month compared to students who did not think it was easy obtain. Data Source(s): MIYHS, 2009-2011 Summary: Overall, about two out of three high school students think it would be easy to obtain alcohol. Figure 48. Percent of high school students who reported it be easy to get alcohol: 2009 and 2011 Source: MIYHS, 2009-2011