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Mortality attributed to misuse of psychoactive drugs, 1979-88
D K Wysowski1, S E Schober, R P Wise
1Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20857.
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Psychoactive drug misuse caused a significant rise in US deaths from 1979-1988, particularly among black men aged 35-44. Illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, along with legal drug misuse, drove this increase.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Mortality data from US death certificates between 1979 and 1988 were analyzed.
- Focus was on deaths where psychoactive drugs were the underlying or contributing cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the trends and demographics of mortality attributed to psychoactive drug misuse in the US.
- To identify high-risk populations for targeted prevention efforts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized national death certificate data, extracting annual and demographic information (age, sex, race).
- Categorized deaths as 'drug-induced' (underlying cause) or 'drug-related' (underlying or contributing cause).
Main Results:
- Drug-induced deaths increased from 6,500 to over 10,000 annually; drug-related deaths rose from 7,200 to over 14,400.
- Illicit drugs (opiates, cocaine) and misuse of legal drugs were primary drivers.
- Black men aged 35-44 experienced the most substantial increases in death rates.
Conclusions:
- Psychoactive drug misuse represents a growing mortality concern in the United States.
- Targeted interventions are crucial for high-risk groups, such as black men aged 35-44.
- The findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to combat drug misuse and related deaths.