Podcast "Characterization of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for overdoses in Puerto Rico"

Announcements
IEPR
27 August 2026

Episode 3 of Season 2 of The Institute of Statistics: The Podcast is now available!

Episode 3 (S2): Characterization of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for overdoses in Puerto Rico.

In this episode, Dr. Eduardo J. Zavala-Mendoza, lead substance abuse researcher for the Puerto Rico Department of Health, takes a deep dive into the characterization of emergency room visits and hospitalizations resulting from potential overdose events, as part of the Collective Action for Violence Prevention in Puerto Rico Symposium.

Access the episode at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/575i8d5T0WMe2raJpAuFub.

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Analysis and Perspective: Tariffs and the Cost of Living in Puerto Rico

Tariffs paid in Puerto Rico quadrupled in just one year. But what does this mean for our wallets?

In this episode of Analysis and Perspective, a production of the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants Foundation, Dr. Ronald G. Hernández Maldonado, Statistical Projects Manager at the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, explains how the increase in tariffs can affect prices and the cost of living for consumers.

Discover what the data reveals and how this issue impacts our economic reality.

Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-fn_DQfMZw&t=2s.

Violence in Puerto Rico: Publication of Preliminary Data for the First Quarter of 2026

The Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System (PRVDRS), affiliated with the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, published today its most recent informative bulletin detailing preliminary data on violent deaths that occurred in the archipelago between January and March 2026.

First Quarter (Q1) Summary

During these first 90 days of the year, a total of 167 violent deaths were preliminarily registered. This represents an average of approximately two violent deaths per day (1.8). The system defines a violent death as one caused by the intentional use of physical force or power against oneself (suicides), another person, or against a group or community (homicides).

Findings on Homicides

70.0% of the violent deaths registered in this period (117 cases) were homicides. Regarding the demographic profile, it stands out that 97% of the victims were men, with the population aged 20 to 39 being the most affected (for both men and women). Firearms remained the primary instrument, used in 93.0% of the reported homicides.

Findings on Suicides

23.0% of the violent deaths corresponded to suicides, for a total of 38 cases. Approximately 8 out of 10 of these victims were men. The 40 to 59 age group accounted for half of the cases (50.0%). During this first quarter, the overall suicide rate stood at 1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.

About the PRVDRS

Established in 2016 with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the PRVDRS collects and consolidates data from the Institute of Forensic Sciences, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and the Demographic Registry. This provides a clear and precise view of violence in the archipelago to help formulate informed prevention strategies.

Public Access

We invite citizens and health and safety professionals to explore the annual reports, quarterly bulletins, and other statistical products through our interactive digital magazine and portals:

• Digital Magazine: Sistema de Notificación de Muertes Violentas de Puerto Rico (PRVDRS) | PDF to Flipbook

• Interactive Tool: PRVDRS Dashboard

• Linktree: PRVDRS | Linktree

• Official Portal: Puerto Rico Statistics | Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System

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