Students Research in Progress
Sunday, October 13, 2024
12:45 PM–02:15 PM
Abstract
Introduction: “Deaths of despair” (DoD) is a composite of fatal drug overdoses, alcohol-related diseases, and suicides. Although DoD research initially focused primarily on White working-class people, Black racial intersectionality could affect DoD.
Research Question or Hypothesis: Assess (1) the relationship between Black racial intersectionality and DoD and (2) specific types of medication/drug poisonings.
Study Design: Retrospective, cohort study of Black decedents in the 2021 National Vital Statistics System Mortality Files.
Methods: The primary outcome was any DoD. Secondary outcomes were deaths by poisoning, opioid poisoning, suicide, and alcoholism. Independent variables were age, sex, race identified per death certificate (Black or Black multiracial), and education. Bivariate associations of outcomes with independent variables were evaluated with Pearson chi-square tests, with logistic regressions used for multivariate analysis.
Results: Of 463,149 Black decedents, 8.2% had a DoD. Poisoning (79.9%) was the most common cause, with opioid poisoning accounting for 42.4%. For the DoD group, 73.8% were male, 19.4% were aged 45-54 years, and 71.1% had an education of high school or less. Rates for Black-multiracial decedents exceeded those of Black-only decedents for every DoD type. DoD overall and poisonings peaked at ages 25-34 years (29.1% and 22.2%, respectively). Controlling for gender and education, DoD odds were more than doubled for Black-multiracial decedents (OR=2.28, 95%; CI=2.13-2.45) and multiplied 8-fold for decedents aged 25-34 years (OR=8.06, 95% CI=7.78-8.34). Racial duality was associated with more than double the risk across all DoD types (ORs=2.03-2.26).
Conclusion: Among Black decedents in 2021, Black-multiracial compared to Black-only race was associated with increased odds of DoD overall and for every specific category examined. The finding of increased risk in Black decedents aged 25-34 years differs from previous research on White decedents. Results of DoD can assist pharmacists in taking a more active role in record-keeping, opioid use reporting, patient counseling, and referrals.
Presenting Author
LeAundra Murray MSMidwestern University
Authors
Kathleen A. Fairman MA, PhD
Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy-Glendale
Mary K Gurney BS, MS, PhD
Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy-Glendale, Glendale, AZ