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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Democratic Erosion Predicts Rising Deaths From Drug Poisoning And Infectious Disease, Jennifer Karas Montez, Kent Jason G. Cheng, Jacob M. Grumbach Jun 2023

Democratic Erosion Predicts Rising Deaths From Drug Poisoning And Infectious Disease, Jennifer Karas Montez, Kent Jason G. Cheng, Jacob M. Grumbach

Population Health Research Brief Series

Strong democratic functioning is good for population health. However, democratic functioning eroded in many U.S. states in recent decades. The erosion was especially pronounced for one aspect of democratic functioning—electoral democracy, which refers to free and fair elections. This brief summarizes findings from a study examining how changes in electoral democracy in the 50 states predicted changes in the risk of death among adults ages 25-64 during 2000-2019. Findings demonstrate that democratic erosion strongly predicts rising deaths from drug poisoning, infectious disease, suicide, and homicide.


How Has The Opioid Crisis Affected Health, Health Care Use, And Crime In The United States?, Johanna Catherine Maclean, Justine Mallatt, Christopher J. Ruhm, Kosali Simon Mar 2023

How Has The Opioid Crisis Affected Health, Health Care Use, And Crime In The United States?, Johanna Catherine Maclean, Justine Mallatt, Christopher J. Ruhm, Kosali Simon

Population Health Research Brief Series

The U.S. opioid crisis is the deadliest drug crisis in the nation’s history and is not abating. This brief summarizes what is known about the relationships between opioid misuse, health, healthcare use, and crime. The authors show that the opioid crisis has led to worsening health, increased mortality, increased healthcare use, and modest increases in crime. In addition, the policies designed to curb opioid misuse and its associated harms have had only limited success.


Which Demographic Groups And Which Places Have The Highest Drug Overdose Rates In The U.S.?, Shannon M. Monnat Mar 2023

Which Demographic Groups And Which Places Have The Highest Drug Overdose Rates In The U.S.?, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Although the drug overdose crisis has affected all demographic groups and places in the United States, overdose rates are much higher in some sub-populations and places than others. This brief describes demographic and geographic differences in fatal drug overdose rates from 1999-2020. Throughout most of this period, fatal drug overdose rates were highest among young and middle-aged adult White and Native American males and middle-aged and older Black males. Rates have been consistently highest in Appalachia, but in recent years have spread throughout several regions in urban and rural areas alike. Although opioids have been the main contributor, cocaine- and …


Cdc Guidelines Hide The Alzheimer Disease Mortality Burden Among Adults With Down Syndrome, Scott D. Landes Feb 2023

Cdc Guidelines Hide The Alzheimer Disease Mortality Burden Among Adults With Down Syndrome, Scott D. Landes

Population Health Research Brief Series

Alzheimer's disease is much more common among adults with than without Down syndrome. While an estimated 11.3% of adults in the general population over age 65 have Alzheimer's disease, nearly all adults with Down syndrome have Alzheimer's neuropathology by age 40, and half develop Alzheimer's disease by age 60. However, CDC guidelines for completing death certificates hide the actual Alzheimer's disease mortality burden among adults with Down syndrome. This brief summarizes results from a recent study seeking to accurately measure the disparity in the Alzheimer's disease mortality burden between adults with versus without Down syndrome for the years 2005-2019.