Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change from previous measurement period.

green chart bars Significantly better than the overall value

red chart bars Significantly worse than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

Outpatient Visits involving Heroin

Measurement Period: 2022

This indicator shows outpatient visits involving non-fatal acute poisonings due to the effects of heroin, regardless of intent. Intent could include suicide, unintentional, or undetermined intent. Outpatient visits that are not included are visits related to late effects, adverse effects, and chronic poisonings due to the effects of drugs. Examples of these effects of drugs are damage to organs from long-term drug use. Outpatient visits are typically the result of an emergency department visit or any observation 23 hours or less, ambulatory surgeries or certain diagnostic services such as MRIs or CT scans.

Why is this important?

Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. These consequences can include poor health outcomes, increased crime and accidents, and increased unemployment and homelessness. Heroin is a very addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system and has a high potential for abuse. Heroin abuse significantly changes how the brain functions. Overdoses often result in hypoxia, where there is a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Chronic heroin use results in many damaging effects including physical dependence, tolerance, and deterioration of the brain's white matter. Furthermore, heroin use during pregnancy can result in poor birth outcomes or spontaneous abortions.

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