Characterizing opioid-involved overdose risk in local communities: An opioid overdose vulnerability assessment across Indiana, 2017

• Published in: Preventive medicine reports 2021-12, Vol.24, p.101538-101538, Article 101538
• Main Authors: Sawyer, Jared L., Shrestha, Shikhar, Pustz, Jennifer C., Gottlieb, Robert, Nichols, Deborah, Van Handel, Michelle, Lingwall, Cailyn, Stopka, Thomas J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Geographical information system; Indiana; Opioid vulnerability assessment; Opioid-involved overdose; Regular; Two-step floating catchment area analysis
• ISSN: 2211-3355; 2211-3355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101538

The objective of this initiative was to conduct a comprehensive opioid overdose vulnerability assessment in Indiana and evaluate spatial accessibility to opioid use disorder treatment, harm reduction services, and opioid response programs. We compiled 2017 county-level (n = 92) data on opioid-related and socioeconomic indicators from publicly available state and federal sources. First, we assessed the spatial distribution of opioid-related indicators in a geographic information system (GIS). Next, we used a novel regression-weighted ranking approach with mean standardized covariates and an opioid-involved overdose mortality outcome to calculate county-level vulnerability scores. Finally, we examined accessibility to opioid use disorder treatment services and opioid response programs at the census tract-level (n = 1511) using two-step floating catchment area analysis. Opioid-related emergency department visit rate, opioid-related arrest rate, chronic hepatitis C virus infection rate, opioid prescription rate, unemployment rate, and percent of female-led households were independently and positively associated with opioid-involved overdose mortality (p