Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
16:02
Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation
Published on: February 10, 2023
3.3K
Tropical Cyclone Exposure and Psychoactive Drug-Related Death Rates
Raenita Spriggs1, Victoria D Lynch1, Yuanyu Lu2
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
JAMA Network Open
|February 20, 2026
Summary
Tropical cyclone exposure increases psychoactive drug-related deaths for up to three months following the event. This highlights the need to integrate substance use services into disaster planning.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Tropical cyclones are increasingly frequent and severe, posing risks to community health.
- Substance use and mental health issues are exacerbated by natural disasters.
- Previous research has not comprehensively examined the link between tropical cyclone exposure and psychoactive drug-related deaths nationally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between county-level tropical cyclone exposure and psychoactive drug-related death rates in the United States.
- To investigate how cyclone strength and demographic factors modify this association.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study utilizing a Bayesian conditional quasi-Poisson model.
- Data from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 2019, from contiguous US counties exposed to tropical cyclones.
- Monthly psychoactive drug-related death rates were analyzed in relation to cyclone-exposed days, stratified by cyclone strength, age, sex, and social disadvantage.
Main Results:
- Each additional cyclone-exposed day was linked to a 3.84% increase in psychoactive drug-related deaths in the exposure month, persisting for up to three months.
- Younger adults (15-44 years) showed higher increases compared to older adults.
- The association was significant only in low-poverty counties, irrespective of racial composition.
Conclusions:
- Tropical cyclone exposure is associated with elevated psychoactive drug-related death rates for at least three months post-event.
- Findings underscore the importance of incorporating substance use and mental health support into climate disaster preparedness and response.
- Public health strategies should address the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations in low-poverty areas.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
35
Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
35
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
38
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
38
01:26Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Relationship: Exposure, Response and Effect
34
The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) relationship describes the intricate link between drug exposure, efficacy, and toxicity, forming the foundation for optimal dosing regimens. This relationship uses mathematical modeling to characterize drug concentration-effect dynamics, ensuring precise therapeutic outcomes.Exposure represents the pharmacokinetic aspect of the PK-PD relationship, denoting the drug amount that elicits a biological response. It is typically quantified by administered...
34
01:28An Overview of Psychoactive Drugs
669
Psychoactive drugs impact brain function, influencing perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior. These substances are grouped based on their effects and the mechanisms by which they act.
Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...
Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...
669
01:00Drug Toxicity: Overview
53
Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
53
01:17Drug Dependence
1.8K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.8K