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To the Editor: Dr Hall and colleagues¹ studied the patterns of abuse among unintentional pharmaceutical overdose fatalities in West Virginia. There has been a similar increase in opioid and other prescription drug-related deaths in the state of Florida, and mixed-drug intoxication is now a common cause of death in this area. For example, since 2001 the numbers of methadone-related deaths in Florida have been increasing while the rates of heroin-related deaths have decreased.² The misuse of prescription opioids has led to an epidemic of opioid-related deaths.

Others have reported on methadone-related deaths, but unfortunately such efforts have not spanned state lines.^3-5 State-by-state variability in reporting data on drug-related deaths could be eliminated by a uniform data-collection process linking heath care professionals, medical examiners, and law enforcement to a national monitoring system that would enable consistent collection and reporting of this vital public health information.

Financial Disclosures: Ms Graham and Drs . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Noni A. Graham, MPH; Mark S. Gold, MD; Bruce A. Goldberger, PhD
bruce-goldberger@ufl.edu
Department of Psychiatry
University of Florida College of Medicine
Gainesville

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