U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce overdose deaths involving heroin — IVP‑23 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology

About the National Data

Data

Data Sources:  National Vital Statistics System - Mortality (NVSS-M), CDC/NCHS; Population Estimates, Census

Baseline: 4.7 deaths per 100,000 population were caused by an overdose involving heroin in 2018

Target: 4.2 per 100,000

Numerator
Number of overdose deaths involving heroin (ICD-10 code: T40.1 in any field of the multiple cause of death file) among deaths with an underlying external cause-of-injury (ICD-10 codes: X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, Y10–Y14).
Denominator
Number of persons.
Target-setting method
Percent improvement
Target-setting method details
10 percent improvement from the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective, but it was not possible to project a target because the trend was moving away from the desired direction. A 10 percent improvement from the baseline was used to calculate a target. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. In addition, interventions such as overdose education and naloxone distribution are promising strategies to address this issue and help reduce opioid-related deaths.

Methodology

Methodology notes

Deaths are classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD–10). Drug overdose deaths are identified using underlying cause-of-death codes X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14. The numerator will include drug overdose deaths that have heroin (T40.1) as a contributing cause using the multiple cause of death file.

Death rates are calculated based on the resident population of the United States for the data year involved. For census years (e.g. 2020), population counts enumerated as of April 1 are used. For all other years, populations estimates as of July 1 are used. Postcensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for years after a census year and match the data year vintage (e.g. July 1, 2021 resident population estimates from Vintage 2021 are used as the denominator for 2021 rates). Intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for the years between censuses (e.g. 2011–2019).

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: <5, 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