Research on Drug Use Impact in Utah County 

SMART gathered information to identify the extent of prescription drug abuse in Utah County. The data will help SMART target prevention efforts toward groups more at risk.

The Substance Abuse Prevention team at Utah County is working with a coalition of community members called SMART (Substance Misuse and Abuse Reduction Team) Utah County to reduce abuse of prescription pain medication. This coalition is composed of doctors, law enforcement representatives, PTA members, parents, pharmacists, religious leaders, treatment professionals, public officials and other community partners such as the Intermountain Health Care’s North County Outreach Council.         

Together SMART and the IHC Outreach Council expanded the Clean out the Cabinet campaign to educate and encourage residents to dispose of or secure unused prescription drugs – particularly pain killers.

Additionally, SMART has gathered information from north, central, and south Utah County cities to identify the extent of prescription drug abuse in Utah County. The data will help SMART target prevention efforts toward groups more at risk.         

"Data has been collected from the Medical Examiners Office records, emergency room (ER) statistics, police arrest and vehicular crash data, high school and college substance consumption surveys, and other data related to the availability of prescription drugs," said Kye Nordfelt, Utah County Division of Substance Abuse research analyst.             

Prescription Pain Reliever Target Population
[Please note: we calculated each city’s rate per 100,000 (e.g. the rate of deaths, ER visits, etc. per 100,000 city residents) so we could compare cities to each other.] Data revealed south Utah County (defined as cities south of Provo) as the area most impacted by prescription pain reliever abuse. "South county cities have the most ER visits, treatment admissions, overdose deaths, shipments of prescription pain relievers into their communities, and youth in south county abuse prescription pain relievers at slightly higher rates," said Nordfelt. "Prescription pain relievers appear more available in the south county possibly leading to higher use rates, higher mortality rates and the highest ER visits across Utah County."              

However, when the total number of incidents were counted, roughly 50 percent of overdose deaths and a significant portion of ER visits occurred in central Utah County. This region represents about 43 percent of the total Utah County population.     

Over 60 percent of deaths due to prescription pain medication overdoses occurred in males. However, females have a similar number of prescription related ER visits and substance abuse treatment admissions for prescription abuse. The data revealed groups ages 20 to 30 and 40 to 50 as the most impacted by prescription pain reliever abuse. "Data from the Medical Examiner's Office showed that male overdose deaths occur at an earlier age.     
As females get older, overdose deaths equal or exceed male overdose deaths," said Nordfelt. Specifically, 70 percent of deaths are males ages 15 to 34. Females ages 50 to 54 and 60 to 64 appear to experience fatal overdoses at a higher rate than males.        

"The data does not reveal why certain locations, genders, and age groups are more impacted," said Nordfelt. "SMART is conducting more research using focus groups and a county-wide survey to measure attitudes and perceptions of county residents." SMART will complete this research in May or June of 2009 . They will use this data to help them identify who is abusing drugs and what is influencing their behavior. SMART will then implement prevention strategies aimed at reducing drug abuse impact to the community.

Would you like to get involved in the Coalitions Efforts?
Preventing substance abuse is a complex task requiring the best-organized efforts of our entire community.  SMART engages important stakeholders, key leaders, partners, and grass root volunteers under a united mission of preventing substance abuse.  All residents of Utah County who are interested in preventing substance abuse can find a place in our organization.  If you are interested call Kye Nordfelt at 801-851-7181.