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. 2020 Dec;97(6):802-807.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-020-00484-0. Epub 2020 Oct 1.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Overdoses in Indianapolis

Nancy Glober  1 , George Mohler  2 , Philip Huynh  3 , Tom Arkins  2 , Dan O'Donnell  2 , Jeremy Carter  2 , Brad Ray  3
Affiliations

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Overdoses in Indianapolis

Nancy Glober et al. J Urban Health. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

We described the change in drug overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in one urban emergency medical services (EMS) system. Data was collected from Marion County, Indiana (Indianapolis), including EMS calls for service (CFS) for suspected overdose, CFS in which naloxone was administered, and fatal overdose data from the County Coroner's Office. With two sample t tests and ARIMA time series forecasting, we showed changes in the daily rates of calls (all EMS CFS, overdose CFS, and CFS in which naloxone was administered) before and after the stay-at-home order in Indianapolis. We further showed differences in the weekly rate of overdose deaths. Overdose CFS and EMS naloxone administration showed an increase with the social isolation of the Indiana stay-at-home order, but a continued increase after the stay-at-home order was terminated. Despite a mild 4% increase in all EMS CFS, overdose CFS increased 43% and CFS with naloxone administration increased 61% after the stay-at-home order. Deaths from drug overdoses increased by 47%. There was no change in distribution of age, race/ethnicity, or zip code of those who overdosed after the stay-at-home order was issued. We hope this data informs policy-makers preparing for future COVID-19 responses and other disaster responses.

Keywords: COVID-19; EMS; Opioid; Overdose; Pandemic.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Daily observed EMS CFS (black curve) in which naloxone was administered (top left), daily rate of all overdose CFS (top right), daily rate of all EMS CFS (lower left), and drug overdose deaths per week (lower right). Blue vertical lines indicate the stay-at-home order date (March 25, 2020) and the beginning of reopening in Indianapolis (May 16, 2020). Red shaded region indicates 99% confidence interval for ARIMA forecast over the period after the stay-at-home order (estimated using data up through March 24, 2020)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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