Deaths In Florida Research Articles

Angiostrongylus cantonensisin Introduced Gastropods in Southern Florida

Angiostrongylus cantonensis , the rat lungworm, is a zoonotic, parasitic nematode that uses the rat as a definitive host and gastropods as intermediate hosts. It is prevalent in parts of Asia, the Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. In the United States, A. cantonensis is established in Hawaii and in recent years has been reported in Alabama, California, Louisiana, and Florida, where it has been found in the reintroduced Lissachatina fulica (also known as Achatina fulica), the giant African snail that was once eradicated from the state. Since 2004, A. cantonensis has been identified as the causative agent for 2 non-human primate deaths in Florida, one attributed to ingestion of the snail Zachrysia provisoria. Our study further supports the presence of A. cantonensis in Z. provisoria in Florida and identifies 2 additional introduced terrestrial snails, Bradybaena similaris and Alcadia striata, that serve as intermediate hosts for A. cantonensis , as well as evidence of rat infection, in southern Florida. The finding of both definitive and intermediate hosts suggests that A. cantonensis may be established in south Florida.

Incentives in public addiction treatment payment systems: Intended and unintended effects

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 146 (2015) e34–e117 e79 reductions inwithdrawal and urges frombaseline through the final treatment week. Conclusions: Depressed and non-depressed smokers differed onpatterns ofwithdrawal andurges to smoke,with those reporting depression showing increased withdrawal and urges when they initially reduced smoking. Financial support: NIH R21DA021839, R01DA034537, Helene Lycacki/Joe Young, Sr. Funds (Michigan). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.582 Incentives in public addiction treatment payment systems: Intended and unintended effects Sharon Reif, Maureen Stewart, Constance M. Horgan, B. Mohr Institute for Behavioral Health, The Heller School, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States Aims: Innovative ways are needed to improve the quality of treatment for drug use disorders. Performance-based contracting (PBC) aims to align program incentives and purchaser goals, yet is uncommon indrugabuse treatment systems. In2007,Maine implemented a second-generation PBC systemwith financial incentives, for outpatient programs, addressing problems identified with its previous PBC. This study aims to (1) determine whether rewarded measures and outcomes changed under the PBC, (2) examine whether there was client selection due to the PBC and (3) explore possible unintended effects of the PBC. Methods: We use state administrative data from 2005 to 2011 andmultilevelmodeling techniqueswithadifference-in-difference approach, and a non-PBC comparison group, to determinewhether the 2007 PBC resulted in improved access and retention in treatment and whether positive or negative unintended effects stemmed from it. Results: Preliminary analyses (N=25,105 admissions) indicated that the probability of receiving four or more outpatient treatment sessions did not change significantly between the 2005–2007 preperiod and the 2008–2011 post-period (OR .9, p= .16) and was not significantly different in the PBC agencies from the non-PBC agencies. Similarly there was no significant change in the probability of remaining in treatment for 90 days or more. The most significant predictors of retention were client characteristics (previous treatment, criminal justice involvement and homelessness). Client selection problems were not identified in an analysis of admission rates for individualswith diagnosedmental disorders.We continue to refine these models and examine the impact of the PBC on other factors and client outcomes. Conclusions: Introduction of a PBC is a significant change in payment design that may affect how drug treatment services are delivered, thus increasing our understanding of its effects is critical. Inpreliminary analyseswefind theoverall net effect of incentivized contract very small and not significant. Financial support: NIDA R01 DA033402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.583 A comparison of drug-related deaths in Florida, 2007–2012 C.J. Reissig, J.M. Vojtech Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States Aims: The state of Florida maintains extensive and publicly available death records data tracking a variety of prescription and recreational drugs of abuse. The aim of this study was to examine the most frequently occurring drug-related deaths in Florida from 2007 to 2012. Conclusions: Drug-related death data were obtained from the state of Florida for the years 2007–2012. The leading causes of drug-related deaths in Florida from 2007 to 2012 involved opioids and benzodiazepines. The Florida death data were sorted by the type of drug(s) involved in death: amphetamines, ethanol, benzodiazepines, inhalants, opioids or “other.” Preliminary analyses examined specific drugs that were present at death including hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, and carisoprodol. Data were sorted to observe the numbers of deaths per year, and the number of deaths classified as “causal” or “present.” Finally, we examined the number of deaths that occurred when each drug was used in combination with one or more other drugs. The majority of deaths occurred when oxycodone and hydrocodone were used in combination with at least one other substance. Alprazolam was the most common drug found in combination with hydrocodone or oxycodone. Financial support: N/A. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.584 Sex and drugs in the lives of minority women: A multi-level analysis of smartphone-based daily diary data Grace L. Reynolds1, Dennis G. Fisher1, Jean-Philippe Laurenceau2 1 California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States 2 University of Deleware, Newark, DE, United States Aims: African American and Latina women are at increased risk of HIV infection through heterosexual contact. Daily smartphonebased diaries can provide event-level information about the context of sex and drug use behaviors that may help in our understanding of why heterosexual contact is so risky for minority women. Theaimof this researchwas to investigatedruguse and sex risk through the use of electronic daily diary collection methods. Methods: 189 women were recruited into a smartphone daily diary study for a 12-week (84 days) diary period. Baseline interviews were completed and women consented to completing a data collection “app” using Samsung Android smartphones with unlimited text, Internet and voice capability provided by the study. Weekly incentiveswere provided for daily diary completion.Mplus was used for the multi-level analysis which specified a withinsubjectsprocesswherewepredicted thathigh-risk sexwouldoccur on days on which women also used illicit drugs.

A comparison of drug-related deaths in Florida, 2007–2012

A comparison of drug-related deaths in Florida, 2007–2012

Trends in licit and illicit drug-related deaths in Florida from 2001 to 2012

BackgroundFlorida, the epicenter of the recent prescription drug epidemic in the United States, maintains a statewide drug mortality surveillance system. We evaluated yearly profiles, demographic characteristics, and correlation between drug trends to understand the factors influencing drug-induced mortality. MethodsAll drug-related deaths reported to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission during 2001–2012 were included (n=92,596). A death was considered “drug-related” if at least one drug was identified in the decedent. Depending on its contribution to death, a drug could be listed as a causative agent or merely present, but not both. ResultsRate of drug-caused deaths was 8.0 per 100,000 population in 2001, increasing to 17.0 in 2010 and then decreasing to 13.9 in 2012. Benzodiazepines had the highest mortality rate in 2010, although <10% were solely due these drugs. Opioid-caused mortality rate also peaked in 2010 and started to decline (−28%) in 2010–2012. The heroin-caused mortality rates were negatively correlated with opioids and benzodiazepines (ρ’s ≥ −0.670; P≤0.034). Ethanol- and cocaine-mortality rates stabilized to 3.0–3.1 and 2.8–3.0 per 100,000 over 2009–2012, respectively. Amphetamines, zolpidem, and inhalants-caused deaths were on the rise with rates of ≤0.6 per 100,000. ConclusionsOverall declines in benzodiazepine- and opioid-caused deaths in 2011–2012 may have been related to Florida's attempts to regulate prescription drug abuse. This period, however, was also marked by a rise in heroin-caused mortality, which may reflect growing use of heroin as an alternative. Increases in amphetamines, zolpidem, and inhalants-induced mortality are an additional public health concern.

Factors Predicting Child Maltreatment Fatalities: A Competing Risk Model

This study examined different types of child maltreatment fatalities and factors associated with child death in Florida. The study design consisted of a two-group comparison: children who died as a result of abuse and those who died as a result of neglect. Predictors for abuse- versus neglect-related death were analyzed using competing-risks survival analysis. Findings revealed a unique trend associated with maltreatment fatalities: While child's enrollment in daycare or school served as a protective factor, being seen by a child protection agency at the time of the incident predicted the earlier fatal outcome. Implications of the findings were discussed.

Ectopic Pregnancy Mortality—Florida, 2009–2010

Mortality rates for ectopic pregnancy in the United States decreased from 1.15 deaths per 100,000 live births during 1980–1984 to 0.50 during 2003–2007. This decline in the ectopic pregnancy mortality ratio has been attributed to improvements in diagnosis and treatment modalities, as well as increased access to early care of women with signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy. The present report discussed data showing a nearly 5-fold increase in the ectopic pregnancy mortality ratio in Florida between 1999–2008 and 2009–2010. The Florida Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review subcommittee identified 13 ectopic pregnancy deaths that occurred in that state during the 10-year period from 1999 to 2008 and 11 during 2009–2010. This represented an increase in the mortality ratio from 0.6 deaths per 100,000 live births during 1999 to 2008 (which is similar to the national rate) to 2.5 during 2009 to 2010. Compared with 1999 to 2008, ectopic pregnancy deaths in Florida during 2009 to 2010 were more likely to have occurred in women who collapsed, presumably from hemorrhage associated with acute tubal rupture. Limited data based on information provided by household and family members and electronic medical records showed that most of these women received no health care before collapse. Six of the 8 women who collapsed during 2009 to 2010 tested positive at autopsy for use of illicit drugs. Therefore, the increased mortality appeared to be associated with delays in seeking health care and to illicit drug use among pregnant women. This report highlights the need for state-based pregnancy-related mortality surveillance to guide public health actions with the aim of preventing future deaths among women with ectopic pregnancy. Based on these findings, the Florida’s Florida Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review committee recommends increased awareness among both pregnant women and health care providers about the importance of early access to care and the health risks associated with illicit drug use during pregnancy.

Trayvon Martin and the Dystopian Turn in US Self‐defense Doctrine

The February 2012 shooting death in Florida of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, by George Zimmerman, an Hispanic neighborhood watch captain ‐ and the police’s immediate release of the shooter ‐ drew widespread outrage at racial disparities in law enforcement of violent crimes in the United States. It also drew attention to a fundamental shift in the doctrine of self-defense as legislated in Florida and 24 other US states since 2005. The social production of multiple spaces shaped this tragedy, and this intervention reflects on the intersection of ghettoization, gated communities, and spaces of the home (read, castle) as they contributed to these events. Lefebvre’s (1991 [1974]) articulation in The Production of Space of space as a social product shaped by values, meanings and power relations is well trodden ground in human geography. The Stand Your Ground law used to justify the initial release of the boy’s killer adds a frightening new twist to how we should understand the play of power in spaces, and the way that space can be used to reproduce overtly violent social dominance. The history of ghettoization of non-whites in American cities, and most virulently, of African Americans is, of course, a textbook example of the use of space to reproduce and deepen social dominance. Over the course of the twentieth century, government agendas articulated with private economic interests to produce ghettoes using racial zoning, restrictive covenants, and mortgage redlining against a wide swath of non-Anglo-Saxon citizens and immigrants. While dark-skinned “new immigrants” from southern and eastern Europe were eventually able to negotiate their way into whiteness (Frye 1998; Roediger 2005), African-Americans remained the racial Other (Said 1994), and were increasingly corralled into urban areas that were being systematically bled of material and financial resources (Wilson 1996). To the problems of overcrowding, disinvestment and blight enabled by systemic racial discrimination, add sectoral changes in the American economy, and the ensuing joblessness wreaked havoc on the families and the social fabric of urban blacks, and contributed to rising crime rates in structurally stripped-down districts (Wilson 1996). The shadow of ghettoization extends across society in the pervasive stereotyping of African-American men and boys in urban,rural and suburban settings.Stereotypes are a particularly insidious form of ecological fallacy. Pervasively linked in much of the collective (white) imagination with ghettoes and criminal behaviors, black boys and men can unwittingly and without warrant provoke fear and consternation when encountered in spaces in which they are viewed by others as not belonging. Black families try to protect their children from the harm that might follow, but can never

Long-term complication: Florida's death certification process and long-term care

This article discusses the medical-legal aspects of death certification in Florida long-term care settings based on an examination of relevant Florida laws and federal guidelines and a comparison of those laws and guidelines to actual medical practice. A review of the health care literature and Florida law, supplemented by interviews with key informants, supports the conclusion that Florida statutes provide a clear protocol for efficient death certification, but do not ensure the accuracy of death certificates. The death certification process in Florida long term care settings could be improved through increased physician training, the development of quality controls, and the expanded use of electronic patient medical records.

The Death Penalty in Florida

This article summarizes the findings and recommendations of the ABA Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project's Florida Assessment Team, which I chaired. Relying on an analysis of caselaw, studies, news reports, and interviews, the article describes significant flaws in Florida's death penalty law and practice in nine areas: the police investigative process; the analysis of scientific evidence; the conduct of prosecutors; the qualifications, reimbursement and competence of defense attorneys; the decision-making process of judges; the structure and decision-making process of capital sentencing juries; clemency; the system's reaction to the race of the victim; and the treatment of people with mental disability. It also notes that administration of the death penalty in Florida is extremely expensive and thus may undermine the reliability of adjudications in noncapital cases.

Methadone- and Heroin-Related Deaths in Florida

Methadone is a potent synthetic opioid used for treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain. Florida Department of Law Enforcement data were analyzed to examine trends in deaths related to or caused by methadone and/or heroin between 2001–2006. Results demonstrated that mortalities associated with methadone use increased steadily as mortalities associated with heroin decreased steadily. Though useful in the treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain, methadone possesses high abuse potential and documented mortality risks. Treatment with methadone, for both pain and opioid dependence, should be preceded by an abuse liability evaluation. Attempts to minimize diversion should be implemented.

REVIEW: Slower boat speeds reduce risks to manatees

Collisions with boats account for approximately 25% of all documented manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris deaths in Florida. The state of Florida, as well as the US Fish and Wildlife Service and various local governments, have established boat speed limits in areas fre- quented by manatees as a means of reducing risks. Boat speed limits are believed to reduce risks in 3 primary ways: (1) greater reaction time for the boat operator; (2) greater reaction time for the man- atee; and (3) reduced severity of injuries in the event that a manatee is hit by a boat. We review the current research and other available information that forms the conceptual basis for this risk reduc- tion method and also examine the primary objections that have been raised against requiring slower boat speeds. The available information supports the position that reducing boat speeds in specific areas is an appropriate, reasonable, and defensible management action. Additional research on how manatees detect and respond to boats would be very useful, as would further empirical studies assessing the effectiveness of existing boat speed limits.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Hurricane-Associated Use of Portable Generators—Florida, 2004

The four major hurricanes that struck Florida during August 13-September 25, 2004, produced electric power outages in several million homes. After the hurricanes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated six deaths in Florida attributed to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (CPSC, unpublished data, 2004). The Florida Department of Health and CDC analyzed demographic and CO exposure data from these fatal poisoning cases and from nonfatal poisoning cases among 167 persons treated at 10 hospitals, including two with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) chambers. This report describes the results of that analysis, which determined that misplacement of portable, gasoline-powered generators (e.g., indoors, in garages, or outdoors near windows) was responsible for nearly all of these CO exposures. Public health practitioners should recognize that post-hurricane environments present challenges to the safe operation of portable generators and should educate the public on the hazards of CO poisoning in these settings.

Does lipoplasty really add morbidity to abdominoplasty? Revisiting the controversy with a series of 406 cases

The popularity of plastic surgery "makeover" television programs has increased interest among the public and the medical community in both the positive and negative aspects of combined surgery procedures. In particular, the safety of combining abdominoplasty with lipoplasty became a matter of concern following multiple deaths in Florida and the consequent moratorium on simultaneous abdominoplasty and lipoplasty enacted by the Florida Board of Medicine. The goal of this study was to evaluate the morbidity of abdominoplasty combined with suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL) compared to the morbidity of abdominoplasty alone. A retrospective review of 406 consecutive abdominoplasty procedures performed by the senior author (W.G.S.) at a single outpatient surgery center was conducted. Cases were sorted into 2 groups: those that had abdominoplasty only and those that had abdominoplasty with SAL. The SAL group was further subdivided into 4 groups based on the volumes of aspirate removed. The primary groups and subgroups were compared with regard to morbidity. In addition, the location of SAL, age, body mass index (BMI) and surgery time of each patient were evaluated as contributing factors to morbidity. No statistically significant differences in complication rates were found when comparing abdominoplasty with SAL to abdominoplasty alone. Additionally, the amount and location of lipoplasty, age, BMI and surgery times did not significantly affect patient morbidity. The prevalence of morbidity in all groups compared favorably to parameters established in previous studies of abdominoplasty and SAL. This extensive retrospective study provides further evidence that combining abdominoplasty with SAL does not increase patient morbidity compared to abdominoplasty alone.

Analysis of Alcohol-Related Motorcycle Crashes in Florida and Recommended Countermeasures

Although much progress has been made in reducing alcohol-related crash fatalities involving motor vehicles, the same success has not been demonstrated with motorcycles. Because the problem associated with drinking and riding is significant in Florida, the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) conducted a comprehensive analysis of motorcycle-alcohol crashes from 1993 to 1997 to understand how and why these crashes occur. CUTR also surveyed states about alcohol programs that target motorcyclists to gather information on potential countermeasures to reduce motorcycle-alcohol injuries and deaths in Florida. The study examined human-related and physical aspects of alcohol-related motorcycle crashes over the 5-year period to help establish an identity for this crash type. Examined human-related crash aspects included age and gender, alcohol use, licensing status, and helmet usage. Physical crash aspects examined included temporal patterns—time of day, day of week, and monthly trends—and contributing factors—first harmful event, road, environmental, and human factors—that cause bodily injuries or property damage. Major study recommendations include increasing efforts to get more motorcyclists properly licensed, greater exposure of messages to motorcyclists about the dangers of drinking and riding, and focused statewide public education and information campaigns. The study concludes with five major categories of countermeasures and recommendations to address the motorcycle-alcohol problem, including public information and education campaigns, promotional activities, enforcement efforts, community-based interventions, and data-collection needs.

Underwater Cave Diving Fatalities in Florida: A Review and Analysis

Although no formal accident data reference system exists, the cave diving deaths in Florida from 1962-1991 and 1995-July 1996 (data for 1992-1994 were unavailable) is reviewed. These cases reveal that the number of diver fatalities is cyclical in nature with a periodicity of eight years. Because we are currently only a year past the cycle low, this analysis allows predictions to be made that indicate a rise in fatalities over the next five to seven year period. This study reveals that a lack of experience and failure to follow proper safety precautions are the leading causes of fatalities in cave diving accidents. A one page accident information reporting form is proposed to aid in the initial and accurate reporting of a fatality and to standardize data collection for future research.

Percentage of lifetime spent in area of residence at time of death

A nationwide study by random-digit-dialing telephone interviews was used to estimate f, the average percentage of people's lifetimes, f, spent within 25 miles of their residence at time of death. The result is f approximately 70%, much larger than expected from census data on migration. Except for deaths in Florida, California, and Arizona, f greater than 50% in all areas of the United States. For over half the U.S. population, f greater than 90%.

Ariadne's Provisions: A "Clue of Thread" to the Intricacies of Procedural Default, Adequate and Independent State Grounds, and Florida's Death Penalty

This Article will attempt to provide a “clue of thread” to state prisoners who wish to return alive from their venture into the habeas corpus corridor of the labyrinth of federalism. This labyrinth’s intricate passageways include the doctrines of procedural default and adequate and independent state grounds. The labyrinth of federalism houses the half-capital punishment and half-states rights creature born from a series of unfortunate circumstances typical of Greek tragedies. Like the minotaur, this creature demands human sacrifices.

Families, Prisons, and Men with Death Sentences

This article examines the impact on family members of the uncertainty surrounding the institutionalization of a loved one. Detailed observations and interviews were conducted with several men sentenced to death in Florida and with their families. The stresses of death row confinement for both the family and inmate are outlined. It is found that the stresses of death row have major consequences for family and friends, with some withdrawing and others reacting with renewed support. These reactions can in turn produce additional tension for the inmate. Conditions that inhibit a family's ability to cope with the situation are also discussed, such as restrictions on families talking with one another in the visiting room and the lack of opportunity to phone their incarcerated member.

Law Enforcement Officers Slain and “Cop Killers” on Florida's Death Row

Law Enforcement Officers Slain and “Cop Killers” on Florida's Death Row

Killing the Killers: A Post-Furman Profile of Florida's Condemned

Because most of the professional literature on capital punishment reflects only official statistics on death row populations, the author decided to spend eighteen days on Florida's Death Row, which contains the largest population of condemned men in the country, interviewing inmates and studying their prison files. Eighty-three of the (then) ninety-six death row inmates were interviewed extensively. A criminological profile of Florida's condemned is presented, and the backgrounds of the offenders and a typical week on death row are described. It is concluded that the race of the victim may play a significant role in the sentencing of capital offenders, and that executing these offenders does not provide significantly more incapacitation than life sentences would.