Context

The rate of overdose deaths in Connecticut increased from 9.9 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 28.5 per 100,000 residents in 2018-a 221 % increase-with the majority occurring among persons aged 35-64 (65.3 %), men (73.9 %), and non-Hispanic whites (78.5 %). Among deaths involving fentanyl, the overall deaths escalated from 5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2015 to 21.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2018 and more than 50% of these fentanyl-related deaths involved polysubstance use.

Inspiration

• To examine trends in polysubstance detection associated with drug-related overdose deaths