Men, people who had lost their jobs and people with mental health diagnoses saw the largest increases in overdose death rates during the pandemic, according to a new study.
Overdose: There were also increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids
The researchers also found increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids. And in deaths that occur in personal residences (compared to a hospital or elsewhere).
Findings on the causes and characteristics of overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can be used to inform policies that could lower death rates even after COVID-19 is under control.
ABOUT THE STUDY:
At the same time that COVID-19 has claimed more than 600,000 lives in the United States. Drug overdose deaths across the country reached unprecedented levels.
Researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health wanted to learn more about the causes of overdoses during the pandemic. As well as on the people affected by them, since there was little data available. They analyzed two-year health data to look for trends and patterns.
“Our motivation for this study was to understand more about the causes and characteristics of these overdose deaths and to identify some of the groups of people who are at increased risk of overdose during the pandemic.” So said co-author Alexandria Macmadu, a Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology at Brown.
The study appears in JAMA Network Open.
On the basis of the trial
The researchers compared the characteristics of 264 adults in the state who died of an overdose during the first eight months of 2020 with those of 206 adults who died of an overdose during the same period last year. Examining variables such as age, sex, race, and ethnicity. As well as the type of drug that contributes to death, the place of death and socioeconomic factors such as insecurity in housing, loss of employment and wages.
RESULTS:
The findings show that overdoses increased significantly among men (who accounted for 72% of deaths in 2019 versus 77% in 2020), people who used synthetic opioids (71% versus 76%), and occurred in personal residences ( 45% vs. 53%).
People who lost their jobs accounted for a larger share of overdose deaths (accounting for 8% of deaths in 2019 versus 16% in 2020), and there was an increase in overdoses in subgroups of people with mental health diagnoses .
Men were the most affected …
The researchers hypothesized that men and women would be affected by overdose deaths at the same rates, says Brandon Marshall, corresponding author of the study and associate professor of epidemiology at the Brown School of Public Health.
“It was surprising to see the significant increase in overdose deaths among men,” says Marshall. “I don’t think we have a good explanation for that at this point, and it is something that requires further investigation.”
The researchers note that the differences between overdose deaths in 2020 compared to 2019 correspond to changes that occurred during the pandemic, including increased isolation, a spate of mental health stressors, widespread economic insecurity and the lethality of the drug supply. .
The new findings provide guidance for doctors, public health officials, scientists, lawmakers and others hoping to stem the tide of overdose deaths, the researchers say.
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