May 24, 2021

Mortality From Drug Overdoses, Homicides, Unintentional Injuries, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and Suicides During the Pandemic, March-August 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): public health

• An analysis of excess mortality in the US during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March – August 2020) found higher-than-expected deaths due to drug overdoses (n = 10,443 excess deaths), homicides (n = 2,014), and unintentional injuries (n = 7,497), and lower-than-expected numbers of suicides (n = 2,432 fewer deaths). Drug overdoses accounted for 13% of non–COVID-19 excess mortality, homicides represented 2%, and unintentional injuries accounted for 9% of non–COVID-19 excess mortality. No significant change in motor vehicle crash deaths was observed. Expected mortality was calculated with seasonally-adjusted models using data from January 2015 to February 2020.

Faust et al. (May 21, 2021). Mortality From Drug Overdoses, Homicides, Unintentional Injuries, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and Suicides During the Pandemic, March-August 2020. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.8012