QuickStats: Rates of Drug-Induced Deaths,* by Race/Ethnicity† --- United States, 1999--2007

QuickStats: Rates of Drug-Induced Deaths,* by Race/Ethnicity† --- United States, 1999--2007
Weekly
October 29, 2010 / 59(42);1376



The figure shows the rates of drug-induced deaths, by race/ethnicity, in the United States, during 1999-2007. During 1999-2007, age-adjusted rates for drug-induced deaths generally increased for each race group. However, the rate remained relatively stable among the Hispanic population, with a slight decline of 5.8% during this period. The rate increased by 80.0% for the total population, 97.1% for the white population, 15.8% for the black population, 65.8% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 42.9% for Asians/Pacific Islanders. During 1999-2007, Asians/Pacific Islanders had substantially lower rates than all other groups.

* Age-adjusted rates for drug-induced deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population (based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] codes D52.1, D59.0, D59.2, D61.1, D64.2, E06.4, E16.0, E23.1, E24.2, E27.3, E66.1, F11.0--F11.5, F11.7--F11.9, F12.0--F12.5, F12.7--F12.9, F13.0--F13.5, F13.7--F13.9, F14.0--F14.5, F14.7--F14.9, F15.0--F15.5, F15.7--F15.9, F16.0--F16.5, F16.7--F16.9, F17.0, F17.3--F17.5, F17.7--F17.9, F18.0--F18.5, F18.7--F18.9, F19.0--F19.5, F19.7--F19.9, G21.1, G24.0, G25.1, G25.4, G25.6, G44.4, G62.0, G72.0, I95.2, J70.2--J70.4, K85.3, L10.5, L27.0--L27.1, M10.2, M32.0, M80.4, M81.4, M83.5, M87.1, R50.2, R78.1--R78.5, X40--X44, X60--X64, X85, and Y10--Y14). Drug-induced deaths include deaths from poisoning, drug dependence, and conditions resulting from acute or chronic exposure to drugs. Drug-induced deaths exclude deaths from adverse events caused by drugs in therapeutic use (ICD-10 codes Y40--59), deaths indirectly related to drug use (e.g., motor vehicle crashes), and newborn deaths associated with the mother's drug use.

† Race and Hispanic ethnicity are reported separately on the death certificate. Persons of Hispanic ethnicity might be of any race. Hispanic decedents also are counted among the races shown.

During 1999--2007, age-adjusted rates for drug-induced deaths generally increased for each race group. The rate increased by 80.0% for the total population, 97.1% for the white population, 15.8% for the black population, 65.8% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 42.9% for Asians/Pacific Islanders. However, for the Hispanic population the rate was more stable, with a decline of 5.8%. During this period, Asians/Pacific Islanders had substantially lower rates than all other groups.

Source: Xu J, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: final data for 2007. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010;58(19). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf Adobe PDF file.

Alternate Text: The figure above shows the rates of drug-induced deaths, by race/ethnicity, in the United States, during 1999-2007. During 1999-2007, age-adjusted rates for drug-induced deaths generally increased for each race group. However, the rate remained relatively stable among the Hispanic population, with a slight decline of 5.8% during this period. The rate increased by 80.0% for the total population, 97.1% for the white population, 15.8% for the black population, 65.8% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 42.9% for Asians/Pacific Islanders. During 1999-2007, Asians/Pacific Islanders had substantially lower rates than all other groups.

QuickStats: Rates of Drug-Induced Deaths,* by Race/Ethnicity† --- United States, 1999--2007