The drug overdose death epidemic: evidence from U.S. Counties

Tomi Ovaska, Albert Sumell and Yogesh Uppal

Applied Economics Letters, 2025, vol. 32, issue 1, 58-61

Abstract: The number of Americans who died from drug overdose deaths has more than quadrupled in the past two decades. Using a unique panel data for all U.S. counties in 2012–17, this study evaluates the importance of self-perceived physical and mental health, as well as diverse income and socio-demographic factors in contributing to rising drug overdose death rates. Our findings suggest that mental and physical distress are important indicators of drug overdose deaths. Furthermore, the effect of mental and physical distress on overdose deaths is larger in urban than in rural counties. These results imply that to effectively combat the drug epidemic, policymakers and community health advocates should prioritize improved and more accessible mental and physical health care to their residents.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2023.2257020

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