(HealthDay)—From 2017 to 2018, there was a decrease in heroin overdose emergency department visits, although the declines were not consistent among states, according to a study published online May 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.

Alana Marie Vivolo-Kantor, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues used data from 23 states and jurisdictions to analyze quarterly and yearly changes in heroin overdoses during 2017 to 2018.

The researchers found that increases were exhibited from quarter 1 (Q1) 2017 to Q2 2017 for both sexes, all age groups, and some states; significant decreases were seen in heroin overdose emergency department visits in both quarters from Q3 2017 to Q1 2018. A significant yearly decrease of 21.5 percent was seen in heroin overdose emergency department visits overall. Significant yearly increases were reported in three states (Illinois, Indiana, and Utah), while significant decreases were seen in nine states (Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia.

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