Study: Up to 154,000 more people could die from alcohol, drug misuse, suicide due to pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic could increase “deaths of despair” from alcohol, drug misuse and suicide by between 27,644 and 154,037 over the decade, depending how quickly the economy recovers, according to a study released Friday by Well Being Trust and the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care.

The authors emphasize that the report “is not a call to suddenly reopen the country,” but to maintain infection control while addressing the nation’s mental health and addiction needs. “This begins with a recognition of the complex interplay between employment status and our overall health and well-being,” the authors said.

The AHA and its Physician Alliance have developed new resources to help medical professionals, behavioral health providers and the general public maintain their mental and emotional well-being during the COVID-19 emergency, including webinars, podcasts, case studies and other materials that offer strategies for recovering physical and mental health and energy.