Page 19 - 2022-November-December-Journal-Final

Drug Overdose Deaths in Travis County, 2018-2021

Desmar Walkes, MD and Jeffery P. Taylor, MPH
Austin Public Health, Austin, Texas

Data Sources
Data on drug overdose deaths
in Travis County from 2018 through
2021 was obtained from two
sources: the Travis County Medical
Examiner’s Office and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
Wide-ranging Online Data for
Epidemiologic Research (WONDER),
an interactive online database.
Specific drug overdoses may involve
multiple drugs and substances
such as opioids, antidepressants,
antipsychotics, psychostimulants,
and synthetic cannabinoids. The
emphasis of this report is the role
of opioids.

Results

The opioid epidemic is continuing
to adversely impact people in the County. Most (59%) of the deaths deaths. Most of the deaths (60.4%)
United States and Travis County, occurred in 2020 and 2021. A occurred at the person’s residence
Texas. During 2020, over 91,500 majority (76%) of the deaths were or another person’s residence. About
drug overdose deaths were reported males and 79% were 20 to 59 years 20% occurred in a hospital. A total

in the United States. In 2019, of age. Some deaths (2.8%) were of 131 persons (13%) were
1
70% of drug overdose deaths in the persons 19 years of age or younger identified as transients.
United States involved an opioid. 2 and some (2.7%) were 70 years of Figure 1 shows age-adjusted drug
During 2018 through 2020, the age or older. overdose and opioid-related mortality
Travis County Medical Examiner’s Most (93%) of the deaths were rates. Age-adjusted mortality rates
Office reported 1,015 drug over accidental. Death by suicide for drug overdose deaths in Travis
dose deaths occurring in Travis accounted for 6.6% of the overdose Continued on page 22

Figure 2 shows the number of drug overdose deaths and the percent involving fentanyl or heroin. The percent of deaths involving
heroin has decreased while the percent of deaths involving fentanyl has increased. During 2021, fentanyl was the only opioid
identified for 68% of the deaths with opioid involvement. Overall, 62% of deaths involving fentanyl during 2018-2021 occurred
in 2021.
TCMS 2022 November • December 19