U.S. Death Rates from Suicides, Alcohol, and Drug Overdoses Reach All-Time High
July 12, 2019
National rates of suicide, alcohol, and drug overdose deaths are at an all-time high. That is according to a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund, which looked at 2017 data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The data showed regional differences in death rates, with drug overdoses higher in the Mid-Atlantic and suicide and alcohol-related fatalities higher in the Midwest. The report also assessed states based on 47 health care measures, including access to treatment, health care costs, and health outcomes among residents. It found that the states with the best rankings had the highest rates of health insurance coverage.
Spark Extra! Learn about an effort to integrate substance abuse and suicide prevention in West Virginia.