Opioids, Overdose, and Mortality: A 10-Question Quiz

Question 1: In the year following a nonfatal opioid overdose, at what rate are survivors likely to die vs the general population?

Answer: C. About 25 times the rate of the general population. In a study that compared mortality rates between persons who survived a nonfatal opioid overdose and the demographically matched general population, the mortality rate among the former was 25 times of the latter.¹

Question 2: Among those who survive a nonfatal opioid overdose, for which of the above causes of death are they at increased risk during the following year?

Answer: F. All of the above. This highlights the importance of closely monitoring both the physical and mental health of these patients following an overdose.¹

Question 3: Among persons with an opioid use disorder, the risk of suicide appears to be greater than that of the general population by how much?

Answer: D. 5 to 6 times as great vs the general population.²

Question 4: During the year following an opioid overdose, are men or women more likely to commit suicide?

Answer: B. Women.¹

Question 5: What percentage of drug overdose deaths in the US appear to involve opioids? 

Answer: B. 50% to 75%.³

Question 6: Between July 2016 and September 2017, emergency department visits in the US for opioid overdoses remained the same or increased?

Answer: C. Increased by approximately 30%.⁴

Question 7: True or False? Between 1980 and 2014, mortality rates related to drug use disorders rose in every county in the US. 

Answer: A. True. There was a great deal of variation among counties, however, in the rates of increase in mortality, ranging from 8.2% to 8369%.⁵

Question 8: Based on current data, what is the best estimate of the number of opioid overdose deaths that may be suicides? 

Answer: C. 20% to 30%. However, it is believed that the actual number of opioid overdoses that are suicides may be higher.²

Question 9: Which of the above analgesic medications is/are associated with depression and suicidal ideation as possible adverse effects?

Answer: D. All of the above.⁶

Question 10: True or False? Current research indicates the use of gabapentin and an opioid together significantly increases the risk of death vs when an opioid is used alone.

Answer: A. True. The use of both gabapentin with an opioid has been reported to result in a 60% increase in the odds of opioid-related death vs opioid use alone.⁷ As gabapentin and opioids are both frequently prescribed analgesics for the management of chronic pain, it is important to be aware of the potential increased lethality due to the combination.