Under a Microscope? Show Them the Data

Judges realize that each criminal defendant who appears for a sentencing is a unique individual, with his or her own peculiar background, experience, and motives. The overriding purposes of our sentencing decisions are to fairly punish the offender and protect the public. For years, there has been no accurate way to study the data generated by sentencing decisions, even by judges. Yet statistics have always existed, and studies have sometimes made unscientific and unsubstantiated claims of disparity and unfairness in sentencing. I was proud to volunteer my county to be a part of an effort to maintain confidence in the judiciary. Allen County is a medium-size county with all the types of criminal cases seen in smaller and larger counties. My court system is neither so big as to make the data collection experiment untenable, nor so small as to make the project too easy. The data platform project is a marriage of two separate disciplines: the judiciary and technology. This is an opportunity to be a part of something important and innovative that will help promote public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary. In the end, my hope is that the data collected will make me and my colleagues better judges and restore any lost confidence in the integrity of what we do.

Subsequent opioid overdose resulting in death in individuals in Allen County, Indiana who receive naloxone administration for past opioid overdose

Background and Hypothesis: Over-prescription of opioids has contributed to increases in opioid overdose (OOD) and OOD deaths. Studies suggest recurring OODs in an individual could be contributing. After a non-fatal overdose, one study found 7% of patients continued to abuse opioids and had another OOD within 1 year. Additionally, the literature suggests a positive correlation between non-fatal overdose and increased risk of subsequent overdose death. Allen County has also experienced increases in overdoses and overdose deaths. We aim to isolate opioid-specific overdoses and deaths in Allen County from current overdose data. We hypothesize individuals in Allen County who received naloxone for OOD have an increased risk of death from a subsequent OOD. An additional objective is to utilize data from the county ambulance service and the two major Allen County health systems to gain more accurate and current accountings of the OOD data. Methods: This study is a retrospective case-control using electronic medical records and/or electronic patient care reports from the Three Rivers Ambulance Authority, Parkview Health, and Lutheran Health Network. Patients who received naloxone between 2018-2020 will be divided into a case group of individuals who died of OOD and a control group of living individuals. Demographics and naloxone administrations data per subject will be collected. Box-and-whisker plots, a Mann-Whitney U Test, and a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test will be done for comparisons. Results and Conclusion: This project has resulted in a study protocol ready for IRB submission with IRB approval and study start date anticipated for Summer 2021. Potential Impact: This study will add to existing knowledge on OOD and subsequent OOD death. Specifically, this study will provide more accurate and current accountings of the OOD data that may aid in the development of policy and interventions to reduce the local opioid crisis.

Effects of Stormwater Management and an Extended Culvert on Stream Health in Dug Run, Allen County, Ohio, USA

Changes in stream hydrology and habitat—associated with urbanization—have impacted diversity, abundance, and movement of both macroinvertebrates and fish. In 2008 the University of Northwestern Ohio began developing the western half of the campus, incorporating stormwater management practices. This provided an opportunity to examine 3 sections of the Dug Run stream that flows through campus: 1 section on the western half of campus that filters stormwater through the soil, and 2 sections on the eastern half of campus which are affected by both urbanization and a culvert that extends under a building and a road. Significant differences in macroinvertebrate Stream Quality Monitoring (SQM) index scores ( p < 0.001), fish diversity ( p < 0.010), and abundance of Orangethroat Darters (Etheostoma spectabile) ( p < 0.001) were observed between the western and the 2 eastern sections of Dug Run. Lower SQM index scores and lower Orangethroat Darter abundances were found in the urbanized sections of the stream, while lower fish diversity numbers were found upstream of the culvert. The western portion of campus, designed to filter stormwater runoff through the soil, was the only section studied with sensitive macroinvertebrates, a higher SQM index score, and a greater abundance of Orangethroat Darters.

Who is Overdosing? An Updated Picture of Overdose Deaths From 2008 to 2015

Purpose: To determine the role of opioids in drug overdose deaths in Allen County, Indiana between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015. Methods: File review of 418 overdose deaths was performed using Indiana State Department of Health death certificates available through the Allen County Coroner’s Office. Data from autopsy and toxicology reports and coroner-requested prescribing data from Indiana’s Prescription Monitoring Program were reviewed. Cause of death and available data were analyzed to identify patterns and trends related to overdose deaths. Results: Four hundred eighteen drug overdose deaths were identified (336 accidental, 66 intentional, and 16 undetermined). Mean age was 42.5 years, 88.5% were Caucasian, and 68.7% were employed. The majority of deaths occurred at a place of residence (71.4%) and with other people present (57.5% of the time). Depression was the most common comorbidity identified. The most common drug classes identified by toxicology were opioids, followed by benzodiazepines. Significant increases in both heroin (35% of deaths in 2015 versus 8.2% in 2013) and fentanyl (30% of deaths in 2015 versus 2.2% in 2011) were observed. Conclusions: Drug overdose continues to be a significant cause of death in Allen County. The majority of deaths were accidental and in relatively young, employed individuals. Prevention and awareness strategies should be encouraged, given that the majority of overdose deaths occurred at a place of residence with other people frequently present. Additional concerns about patterns of drug use were confirmed with marked increases in both heroin and fentanyl contributing to overdose deaths in the latter part of the study.