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. 2023 Dec;89(12):6321-6324.
doi: 10.1177/00031348231173996. Epub 2023 Apr 28.

National Analysis of Motor Vehicle Collision-Associated Mortality Among Opioid Users From 2010 to 2020: The Need for Effective Prevention Policies

Emelia Watts  1 , Heli Patel  1 , Maveric Abella  2 , Jason Kim  1 , Adel Elkbuli  3   4
Affiliations

National Analysis of Motor Vehicle Collision-Associated Mortality Among Opioid Users From 2010 to 2020: The Need for Effective Prevention Policies

Emelia Watts et al. Am Surg. 2023 Dec.

Expression of concern in

  • Expression of Concern.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Am Surg. 2025 Mar;91(3):464-472. doi: 10.1177/00031348241305412. Epub 2025 Jan 10. Am Surg. 2025. PMID: 39791244 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the trends in the incidence of opioid-associated motor vehicle fatalities in the United States (US) over the past decade and identify geographic or demographic trends. We conducted a retrospective repeated cross-sectional study utilizing the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Database to gather data on opioid-associated motor vehicle fatalities from 2010 to 2020. The southern US experienced the highest percent increase in opioid-related fatalities from 2010 to 2020 (263.1%), followed by the Midwest (160.7%), the west (86.3%), and the northeast (10.0%). The use of opioids increases a driver's risk of motor vehicle crash involvement, especially amongst non-Hispanic White males between 25 and 55 years of age who live in the southern states of the US. There is a need for augmented opioid-related policy concerning the potency and intake of prescription opioids to reduce motor vehicle fatalities.

Keywords: fatalities; motor vehicle collisions; opioids usage; substance abuse.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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