Reduce drug overdose deaths — SU‑03 Data Methodology and Measurement

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

About the National Data

Data

Baseline: 20.7 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population occurred in 2018

Target: 20.7 per 100,000

Numerator
Number of deaths due to drug overdose (ICD-10 codes: X40-X44, X60-X64, X85, Y10-Y14).
Denominator
Number of persons.
Target-setting method
Maintain the baseline
Target-setting method justification
This method was used because the trend was moving away from the desired direction. Maintaining the baseline is the desired target because drug overdose deaths have been increasing precipitously. While a reduction in overdose deaths is ideal, halting the increase still confers great public health benefit.

Methodology

Methodology notes

Includes deaths with underlying causes of unintentional drug poisoning (X40–X44), suicide drug poisoning (X60–X64), homicide drug poisoning (X85), or drug poisoning of undetermined intent (Y10–Y14), as coded in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision.

Age-adjustment notes

This indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Sex: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Race/Ethnicity: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Geographic Location: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
  • Marital Status: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Modified, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 but underwent a change in measurement.
Changes between HP2020 and HP2030
This objective differs from Healthy People 2020 objective SA-12 in the objective SA-12 tracked all drug-induced deaths, while this objective tracks deaths due to drug overdoses.