No abstract

Future use of e-mail surveys in selected circumstances is promising, because the majority of providers have Internet access and acknowledged interest in participating in e-mail surveys. E-mail surveys could be especially useful if rapid response time is necessary. There were fewer incomplete questions by participants who completed the e-mail survey compared with postal or fax participants. Updating membership e-mail addresses and routinely using e-mail as a communication tool should improve the ability to use e-mail surveys. There may need to be ongoing evaluations that critically evaluate providers' responses to e-mail surveys compared with other survey modes before e-mail surveys can become a standard survey tool. In the meantime, mixed-mode surveys may be an option.

Objectives. To describe changes in suspected heroin overdose emergency department (ED) visits. Methods. We analyzed quarterly and yearly changes in heroin overdoses during 2017–2018 by using data from 23 states and jurisdictions (including the District of Columbia) funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Enhanced State Opioid Overdose Surveillance program. The analyses included the Pearson χ 2 test to detect significant changes. Results. Both sexes, all age groups, and some states exhibited increases from quarter 1 (Q1) 2017 to Q2 2017 and significant decreases in both quarters from Q3 2017 to Q1 2018 in heroin overdose ED visits. Overall, there was a significant yearly decline of 21.5% in heroin overdose ED visits. Three states had significant yearly increases (Illinois, Indiana, and Utah), and 9 states (Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia had significant decreases. Conclusions. We identified decreases in heroin overdose ED visits from 2017 through 2018, but these declines were not consistent among states. Even with the possibility of a stabilization or slowing of this epidemic, it is important that the field of public health and its partners implement strategies to prevent overdoses and target emerging hot spots.