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Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME


Drug-related deaths reported to DAWN 71
Drug-related suicide deaths reported to DAWN 13
Metro area population, 2008 514,065
Population covered by DAWN 514,065
Percent of population covered by DAWN 100%

Metro area overview: Deaths and population by county, 2008
Counties Drug-related Drug-related suicide Population
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Total participating (3) 71 13.8 13 2.5 514,065
1. Cumberland County, ME 45 16.3 10 3.6 276,047
2. Sagadahoc County, ME 2 5.5 0 0.0 36,332
3. York County, ME 24 11.9 3 1.5 201,686

Deaths by manner of death, 2008
Suicide 15.5%
Homicide 0.0%
Could not be determined 6.0%
Accidental 76.2%
Natural 2.4%

Place of death, 2008
Drug-related Deaths
Health care facility 23
Home 35
Public place --
Other 11
Not documented 0

Drug-related suicide Deaths
Health care facility --
Home 8
Public place --
Other --
Not documented 0

Top 5 drugs involved: Drug-related deaths, 2008
Drug category Single-drug deaths Multi-drug deaths Total
Opiates/opioids 20 32 52
Alcohol 1 17 18
Antidepressants 1 13 14
Benzodiazepines 0 14 14
Cocaine 1 7 8

Top 5 drugs involved: Drug-related suicide deaths, 2008
Drug category Single-drug deaths Multi-drug deaths Total
Antidepressants 0 8 8
Alcohol 0 6 6
Opiates/opioids 0 6 6

Death rates by gender and age: Drug-related, 2008
Gender Deaths per 100,000 population
Male 18.8
Female 9.1

Age Deaths per 100,000 population
Under 21 2.3
21 to 34 20.6
35 to 54 27.3
55 and over 4.9

Death rates by gender and age: Drug-related suicide, 2008
Gender Deaths per 100,000 population
Male 2.8
Female 2.3

Age Deaths per 100,000 population
Under 21 0.0
21 to 34 1.3
35 to 54 4.9
55 and over 2.8

Drug-related deaths by drug category, 2007-2008
Drug category Drug-related Drug-related suicide
Deaths, 2007 Deaths, 2008 Single-drug deaths, 2008 Deaths, 2007 Deaths, 2008 Single-drug deaths, 2008
* Includes alcohol in combination with other drugs (all ages) and alcohol alone in decedents under age 21.
Includes MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), and ketamine.
†† Includes PCP, LSD, and miscellaneous hallucinogens.
ALL DRUGS 55 71 28 8 13 --
Alcohol* 7 18 -- -- 6 --
Cocaine 16 8 -- -- 0 --
Marijuana -- 0 0 0 0 --
Stimulants -- -- 0 -- 0 --
Club drugs 0 0 0 0 0 --
Hallucinogens†† 0 0 0 0 0 --
Inhalants 0 0 0 0 0 --
Antidepressants 14 14 -- 4 8 --
Antipsychotics -- 5 0 -- 0 --
Benzodiazepines 15 14 0 0 -- --
Misc. anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics -- 5 0 -- -- --
Opiates/opioids 49 52 20 -- 6 --
– Heroin (specified) -- -- -- 0 -- --
– Methadone 27 24 12 0 -- --
– All other opiates/opioids 32 29 6 -- 5 --
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents 0 0 0 -- 0 --
Salicylates/combinations 0 0 0 0 0 --
Misc. analgesics/combinations 0 -- 0 -- -- --
Anticonvulsants -- 0 0 0 0 --
Muscle relaxants -- -- -- 0 -- --

End Notes

1. Drug-related deaths exclude suicides.
2. All death rates are per 100,000 population.
3. -- A number less than 4 has been suppressed.
SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2008 (08/2009 update).

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