Changing trends in drug overdose mortality in Spain, 2001-2022

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Drug overdose mortality is a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding temporal trends and drug categories involved is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends in drug overdose deaths in Spain from 2001 to 2022.
• To identify the primary drug categories contributing to overdose fatalities.
• To examine sex-based differences in overdose mortality trends.

Main Methods:

• A repeated cross-sectional observational study utilized nationwide Spanish mortality data (2001-2022) for individuals aged 15-64.
• Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated, and joinpoint regression analyzed trend changes.
• Overdose deaths were categorized by drug type (ICD-10 codes) and intentionality, with analyses stratified by sex.

Main Results:

• Total overdose deaths increased by 49.0% between 2001 and 2022.
• A significant trend shift occurred in 2010, with accelerated increases observed from 2018.
• Females exhibited an earlier trend change and a higher average annual percentage change, particularly in deaths involving antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, and psychotropic drugs.

Conclusions:

• Drug overdose mortality in Spain has substantially increased since 2010, with notable acceleration from 2018.
• The leading drug categories involved were "other and unspecified drugs" and "narcotics and psychodysleptics."
• Targeted, sex-specific interventions are needed, especially addressing intentional overdoses among females involving specific drug classes.