The highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the United States during the year of the COVID-19 outbreak were reportedly among workers in the construction and extraction, food preparation, personal care, service, and transportation and material moving occupations.
This data is from a new study released on Tuesday, August 22, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.
Death Rates Among Those of Working Age in the COVID-19 Era
According to USA Today, the CDC evaluated drug overdose fatalities among people of working age in 2020 across 46 states and New York City, with a particular emphasis on jobs and industries. "This trend intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic; the U.S. drug overdose death rate in 2021 was 50% higher than in 2019," as the CDC notes.
In 2020, the construction, lodging, food services, other services (excluding public administration), management, administrative, waste services, mining, arts, entertainment, leisure, transportation, and warehousing industries would be the most impacted by drug overdoses.
The analysis also found that the occupations of fishermen, sailors, roofers, drywall workers, ceiling tile installers, and conservation staff were among the particular census occupations and industries that were most likely to be impacted during that year.
According to the survey, industries, and professions where drug overdose rates are the greatest are those in which wounded employees are more prone to take prescription opioids after suffering physical injuries on the job. For instance, the study found that construction workers had a mortality rate from drug overdoses that was four times that of the general population.
Andrea Steege, a co-author of the paper and a lead research health scientist at the Health Informatics Branch of the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Division of Field Studies (NIOSH DFSE), said the study result was "not too surprising."
Steege added that CDC research performed years ago with less data also found that construction workers had higher fatality rates from drug overdoses compared to individuals with other jobs.
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Drug Overdose Mortality Rates Vary by Profession and Sector
Drug overdose mortality risks are profession and industry-specific due to a number of variables, according to the paper. These include disparities in workplace injury, work-related psychological stress, unstable employment, employer-provided health insurance, and access to paid sick leave.
Among the substances listed in the study as being taken by those who died are heroin, natural and semisynthetic opioids, methadone, synthetic opioids other than methadone, cocaine, and psychostimulants with abuse potential.
Statistics predict that by the year 2020, synthetic opioids "other than methadone" will be implicated in 64% of drug overdose cases in typical jobs and sectors. "This drug class comprised the largest proportion of drug overdose deaths within every occupation and industry group," the study says.
