Citation

Cheng M, Sauer B, Johnson E, Porucznik C, Hegmann KT. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2013; 56(3): 308-316.

Affiliation

Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational, Environmental Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah. melissa.cheng@hsc.utah.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22138

PMID

23143851

Abstract

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.

Language: en