News Release

Wide variation found among US counties for death from alcohol and drug use, suicide and interpersonal violence

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

Bottom Line: Deaths from alcohol and drug use disorders, self-harm and interpersonal violence varied widely among U.S counties.

Why The Research Is Interesting: Substance use disorders and intentional injuries are causes of premature death and disability in the United States. Understanding how mortality rates vary at a local level is important for developing effective public health and policy responses.

Who and When: About 2.8 million deaths between 1980 and 2014 in the United States due to substance use disorders (alcohol and drug) and intentional injuries (self-harm and interpersonal violence)

What (Study Measures): County of residence (exposure); mortality rates by U.S. county from 3,110 counties due to alcohol and drug use disorders, self-harm and interpersonal violence (outcomes)

Authors: Christopher J. L. Murray, M.D., D.Phil., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, and coauthors

Study Limitation: Data are subject to error.

Study Conclusions: These findings may help inform efforts at prevention, diagnosis and treatment to improve health and reduce inequalities.

For more details and to read the full study, please visit the For The Media website.

(doi:10.1001/jama.2018.0900)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

#  #  #

Want to embed a link to this report in your story? Link will be live at the embargo time http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2018.0900

###


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.