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Marital Status and Deaths from Alcohol, Drug Overdose, and Suicide in the United States

2000–2021

Bibliographic Data

ID13103588
AuthorsHangqing Ruan (0000-0002-9993-7949, University at Buffalo, State University of New York), M G Gao (0000-0003-0348-615X, University of Maryland, College Park), Yajie Xiong (0009-0003-1120-1924, University of Maryland, College Park), Philip N Cohen (0000-0003-2839-3144, University of Maryland, College Park)
Year2024
Volume10
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2378-0231 • E-ISSN: 2378-0231
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/23780231241275429
OpenAlexW4402878896
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited78

This article is the first to explore variations in alcohol, drug overdose, and suicide deaths in the United States by marital status before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Multiple Cause-of-Death file and the American Community Survey (2000–2021), we found the nonmarried exhibit mortality rates 2 to 3 times higher in alcohol and suicide deaths and 4 to 5 times higher in drug-related deaths compared to the married population, net of education. This magnitude of marriage advantage is comparable to educational differences in these deaths. The marriage advantages are more pronounced for males than females (except in suicide, where gender differences are minor) and for White individuals compared to Black and Hispanic individuals. Furthermore, the marriage advantage widened substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We advocate for viewing these deaths not only through an economic lens but also as manifestations of “social pathology,” urging consideration within broader societal shifts

Drug · Drug overdose · Environmental health · Marital status · Medical emergency · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine

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Unique citing works2
Citations per year2
Citation span2026 - 2026 (1)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
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