Mortality associated with drug misuse among blacks in New York City, 1979-1981

A comparison of age-specific death rates from "drug dependence" (ICD 304) among Blacks and Whites in New York City for 1979-1981 found two distinct patterns of mortality. Blacks have higher levels of mortality which extend from the central adult years into middle age while deaths among Whites are confined largely to the younger years (below 35). Among both racial groups, mortality is much higher for males than for females. When male undercount is "corrected," the ratios between male and female deaths are smaller. The difference in economic opportunities for Whites and Blacks is suggested as a reason why Whites "age out" of the years of highest risk before Blacks.