ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationship between mining practices in Central Appalachia and opioid use. Central Appalachia, known for coal mining, has one of the highest rates of opioid use in the U.S. Of particular interest is Mountaintop Removal Mining (MTR). MTR is a form of surface mining that requires clearcutting the mountain’s forest before detonating explosives to reveal a coal vein. The vein reveals coal that would not have been accessible using traditional underground mining methods.MTR has been shown to be connected to many adverse health effects, including increased rates of cancer, serious illness, and substance-abuse-related hospitalizations. The researchers of this study hypothesize that the adverse health effects of MTR may influence opioid abuse. The results of this study revealed a relationship between mining practices in Central Appalachian counties and opioid-related hospital discharge rates and prescription rates.

摘要

这项研究探讨了中阿巴拉契亚地区采矿实践与阿片类药物使用之间的关系。阿巴拉契亚中部地区（Central Appalachia）以煤炭开采闻名，是美国使用阿片类药物的比例最高的国家之一。山顶去除采矿（MTR）尤其受关注。MTR是一种露天开采的形式，需要在引爆炸药以露出煤脉之前清除山区的森林。矿脉显示出用传统的地下采矿方法无法获得的煤炭。MTR已显示出与许多不良健康影响相关，包括癌症，严重疾病和与药物滥用相关的住院率增加。这项研究的研究人员假设，MTR的不良健康影响可能会影响阿片类药物的滥用。