Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Heroin: United States, 2000–2013

March 4, 2015

Drug poisoning (overdose) is the number one cause of injury-related death in the United States, with 43,982 deaths occurring in 2013. While much attention has been given to deaths involving opioid analgesics, in recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin. A recent study using data from 28 states reported that the death rate for heroin overdose doubled from 2010 through 2012.

Using data from the National Vital Statistics System, a new NCHS report provides a description of trends and demographics for heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths in the United States from 2000 through 2013.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin nearly quadrupled from 0.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2000 to 2.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2013. Most of the increase occurred after 2010.
  • The number of drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin was nearly four times higher for men (6,525 deaths) than women (1,732 deaths) in 2013.
  • In 2000, non-Hispanic black persons aged 45–64 had the highest rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin (2.0 per 100,000). In 2013, non-Hispanic white persons aged 18–44 had the highest rate (7.0 per 100,000).
  • From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin increased for all regions of the country, with the greatest increase seen in the Midwest.

 

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National and State Patterns of Teen Births in the United States, 1940–2013

August 20, 2014

Teen childbearing in the United States has been declining for more than half a century. Except for a brief but steep increase in teen birth rates from 1986 to 1991 and smaller upturns during 1969–1970, 1979–1980, and 2005–2007, birth rates for U.S. teenagers have fallen since 1957. The birth rate in 2013, 26.6 births per 1,000 teenagers aged 15–19, was less than one-half of the rate in 1991 (61.8 per 1,000) and less than one-third of the rate in 1957 (96.3), when the United States rate was at its peak. The overall reductions in teen birth rates have been shared across all age groups, race and ethnicity groups, and states.

A new NCHS report presents trends from 1940 through 2013 in national birth rates for teenagers, with particular focus on the period since 1991. The percent changes in rates for 1991–2012 and
the for 2007–2012 are presented for the United States and for states. Preliminary data for 2013 are shown where available.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • Teen childbearing has been on a long-term downward trend, with only four exceptions since peaking in 1957. The rate in 1957 was 96.3 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. The rate dropped almost one-third to 65.5 in 1969.
  • The rate then increased 4% in 1969–1970 (68.3) before resuming a decline that continued until 1979–1980 and again until 1986 (50.2). From 1986 through 1991, the birth rate rose 23%. Since 1991, the rate has fallen 57% and the decline has been continuous except for a 5% rise during 2005–2007.
  • The pace of decline accelerated from 2007 forward, with the rate reaching 26.6 per 1,000 in 2013, a drop of 36% from 2007.
  • The 2013 rate is less than one-third of the 1957 peak rate.

 

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Births: Preliminary Data for 2013

May 29, 2014

babyNCHS has released a new report that presents preliminary data for 2013 on births in the United States.  U.S. data on births are shown by age, live-birth order, race, and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on marital status, cesarean delivery, preterm births, and low birthweight are also presented.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • The 2013 preliminary number of births for the United States was 3,957,577, slightly more births (4,736) than in 2012 (3,952,841).  From 2007 through 2010, the number of births declined steadily, then the pace of decline slowed from 2010 to 2012.
  • The number of births rose less than 1% for non-Hispanic white and 1% for non- Hispanic black women between 2012 and 2013, and was essentially unchanged for Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) women. Births to Asian or Pacific Islander (API) women declined 2% in 2013.
  • The 2013 preliminary general fertility rate (GFR) for the United States reached another record low, 62.9 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44, down slightly (less than 1%) from 2012 (63.0).  The fertility rate has declined steadily since 2007, but the pace of decline has slowed from 2010 to 2013.
  • The 2013 preliminary birth rate for teenagers was 26.6 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, down 10% from 2012 (29.4) and another historic low for the nation.  Following a brief upturn in 2006 and 2007, the rate has declined 36% since 2007 (41.5) and 57% overall from 1991 (61.8), the most recent peak.

 

 

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Health, United States, 2013 explores the Nation’s health status; special feature on use of prescription drugs

May 14, 2014

Picture1The National Center for Health Statistics announces the release of Health, United States, 2013.

Health, United States is the annual report on the health status of the Nation, submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress. The 2013 report includes a rich compilation of health data through 2012 from a number of sources within the federal government and in the private sector.

Each year the report focuses on a special topic of importance to current discussions in public health. This year’s special feature is on Prescription Drugs in the United States. Among the highlights:

  • In 2007-2010, almost one-half of the U.S. population took at least one prescription drug in the preceding month and 1 in 10 reported taking five or more drugs.
  • Prescription drug use in 2007-2010 increased with age, from 1 in 4 children to 9 in 10 persons aged 65 and over.
  • In 2007-2010, cardiovascular agents (used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease) and cholesterol lowering drugs were two of the most commonly used classes of prescription drugs among adults.
  • In 2012, adults aged 18-64 who were uninsured for all or part of the past year were more than four times as likely to report not getting needed prescription drugs due to cost as adults who were insured for the whole year.
  • Drug poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics among those aged 15 and over more than tripled in the past decade, from 1.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999-2000 to 6.6 in 2009-2010.
  • In 2010, 53.7% of physician offices, 50.3% of hospital outpatient departments, 58.1% of hospital emergency departments and 19.7% of residential care facilities had a computerized prescription ordering system.

Detailed tables and charts display health statistics trends over time on birth and death rates, infant mortality, life expectancy, morbidity and health status, risk factors, use of ambulatory and inpatient care, health personnel and facilities, financing of health care, health insurance and managed care, and other health topics. Just a few of the highlights from the 2013 report include:

  • Between 2002 and 2012, the birth rate among teenagers aged 15-19 fell 31%, from 42.6 to 29.4 live births per 1,000 females, reaching a record low.
  • In 2009-2012 nearly one-half of adults aged 20 and over with hypertension continued to have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • In 2011, there were 126 million visits to hospital outpatient departments and 136 million visits to hospital emergency departments.
  • Between 2002 and 2012, among adults aged 18-64, the percentage who reported not receiving or delaying seeking needed medical care due to cost in the past 12 months increased from 9.7% to 13.3%.
  • In 2011, there were 26.1 physicians in patient care per 10,000 population in the United States. The number of patient care physicians per 100,000 population ranged from 17.7 in Idaho to 41.1 in Massachusetts and 68.3 in the District of Columbia.

A variety of resources can be found on the Health, United States webpage, including the full report featuring a chartbook and trend tables. A special abridged edition, Health, United States, 2013: In Brief is also available as a companion to the full report. Trend tables are available as downloadable spreadsheet files for data manipulation or graphical analysis. Data trends may be more complete in spreadsheet files than in pdf files, as data are updated throughout the year. The Preface describes changes and additions to the current report. Major findings are presented in the Highlights. At a Glance Table is a data summary, useful when you need to find the latest data quickly. The Appendix includes data sources and definitions and methods. The Index  is a topical index with cross references to such topics as child and adolescent health, elderly population, specific race and ethnic groups, State data, and women’s health.

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