This study characterizes drug-related deaths according to ethnicity in Utah during 2005–2010, based on data from the Utah Violent Death Reporting System (UTVDRS). Hispanics made up 12.1% (12.5% male and 11.7% female) of deaths. The most frequently identified drugs among decedents were opiates, then illicit drugs, benzodiazepines, over-the-counter medication, and antidepressants. Death rates for each drug were significantly greater in non-Hispanics than Hispanics. Most decedents used a combination of drugs. For each combination, rates were significantly greater for non-Hispanics than Hispanics, with an exception for opiates and illicit drugs combined, where there was no significant difference. Approximately 79% of non-Hispanics and 65% of Hispanics had one or more of the selected problems (e.g., mental, physical, or crisis related). Rates for each combination of problems were significantly greater in non-Hispanics, with the exception of crisis. Hispanics were less affected by the rise in prescription drug abuse. Hispanic decedents had a greater proportion of illegal drugs, consistent with it being more difficult to obtain prescription drugs. Hispanic decedents were less likely to have physical and mental health problems, which may be related to a smaller chance of diagnosis of such problems through the healthcare system. 1. Introduction Drug-related death rates in the United States have steadily increased in the past decade. Deaths from drug poisonings more than doubled from 6 per 100,000 in 2000 to 12.5 per 100,000 in 2010 [1]. Since 2009, deaths due to drug poisonings have exceeded deaths from motor vehicle accidents, with males being at greater risk than females, and death rates peaking at age of 45–54 [1]. Several studies have reported increasing death rates from opioid analgesics (e.g., oxycodone, methadone, or hydrocodone) [2–7]. Since 2003, more overdose deaths have resulted from opioid analgesics than heroin and cocaine combined [6]. In 2010, the drug poisoning rate in Utah was 16.9 per 100,000, compared with 12.3 per 100,000 in the United States [8]. Utah ranked eighth highest in the nation. Recent studies have explored selected aspects of prescription opioid-related deaths in Utah [9, 10]. However, these studies have not looked at the influence of ethnicity on drug-related deaths. It has previously been observed that racial/ethnic minorities in the United States are less likely to use prescription drugs and, consequently, less likely to abuse them [11]. In the current study, we examine whether drug-related death rates are lower for Hispanics
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