What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the rise in drug self-intoxication mortality compared to suicide mortality from 1999 to 2023.

January 26, 2026Open Access

The Overlooked Crisis: Drug Self-Intoxication Mortality Increased at 5 Times the Rate of Suicide Mortality During the US Opioid Epidemic (1999-2023)

MAMushood AhmedHeart Failure & Transplant EZEeshal ZulfiqarDow University of Health Sciences ASAimen ShafiqDow University of Health Sciences

Key Points

To examine the rise in drug self-intoxication mortality compared to suicide mortality from 1999 to 2023.
Analyzed mortality trends from 1999 to 2023
Focused on individuals with mental and behavioral disorders
Compared drug self-intoxication and suicide mortality rates
Evaluated demographic disparities in mortality rates
Drug self-intoxication mortality increased at over five times the rate of suicide mortality.
Significant demographic disparities were observed in mortality rates.
The rise in mortality correlates with the broader US opioid epidemic.

Abstract

Self-injury mortality among individuals with mental and behavioral disorders-especially those with substance use disorders-has steadily increased from 1999 to 2023. This rise has been driven primarily by a sharp increase in drug self-intoxication mortality, which has grown at over 5 times the rate of suicide mortality, alongside substantial demographic disparities.

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