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Q&A
Annual statistics on suspected overdose cases at OCME
3:58:33
ยท
41 sec
Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about the average number of suspected overdose cases the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) receives annually. Dr. Jason Graham provides recent statistics and explains their significance.
- There has been a slight reduction in the number of confirmed unintentional overdose deaths in the city
- In recent years, the city has seen over 3,000 overdose deaths annually
- Death certificates issued by OCME provide crucial information about drugs involved in these deaths
- This data is important for both local and national vital statistics
Lynn Schulman
3:58:33
On average, how many suspected overdose cases does OCME receive annually?
Jason Graham
3:58:39
Well, as has been reported by the health department, we were pleased to be able to see that there's been slight reduction in the number of confirmed overdose, unintentional overdose deaths in the city.
3:58:51
But for the past, for the previous couple of years, we've seen over three thousand overdose deaths in the city.
3:58:59
And our death certificates, the information about which drugs are involved in those deaths become very important to local and national vital statistics.
3:59:10
And our death certificates serve to inform those, that data.