State Category: Colorado

Age-Friendly Public Health: The Podcast

October 2024

In this episode of Age-Friendly Public Health: The Podcast host, Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) is joined by guest Jess Maurer, Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA). They discuss how MCOA is working to end ageism in Maine and the action being taken on ending ageism. Listen to their conversation.

Age-Friendly Public Health: The Podcast is a production of Trust for America’s Health’s (TFAH) Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Initiative. This quarterly podcast, hosted by TFAH’s President and CEO Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, will feature conversations with leaders in the age-friendly public health systems movement on challenges, opportunities, and model programs, with a focus on the role public health can play in helping older adults thrive. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where ever you access your favorite podcast.

Episode 4 transcript

Previous Episodes:

New National Adult Obesity Data Show Level Trend

Stabilization of Obesity Rates is Welcome News but More Investment in Prevention Policies and Programs is Needed

(Washington, DC – October 10, 2024) – Over the last two decades, obesity has increased across the country in both adults and children. Newly released National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2021–2023 find that 40.3 percent of adults had obesity, which is slightly lower than the previous data (2017–2020). This is tentatively positive news, as it suggests a possible stabilization of the overall adult obesity rates in the United States in recent years— though the rate is still much higher than prior decades.

Percent of Adults Ages 20 and Older with Obesity, 1999-2023


Source: NHANES

Obesity is a complex disease that is influenced by many factors beyond personal behavior. Reversing the nation’s obesity crisis requires sustained investment in multidimensional strategies and policies, that are tailored for population groups and regional differences. As TFAH’s September 2024 State of Obesity report explores, there are a number of evidence-based policies and programs that improve nutrition and support healthy eating, and help to reduce rates of obesity and chronic disease.

This includes important policy progress, like:

  • Improving nutritional quality of the food supply and diets by prohibiting trans fats in foods, instituting voluntary guidance to reduce sodium in commercial foods, and taxing sugar sweetened beverages to reduce added sugar consumption.
  • Empowering consumers through better labeling and education, like improved Nutrition Facts labels, new restaurant menu labeling, and family education programs.
  • Increasing nutritional quality and access in schools, institutions, and nutrition programs, including aligning child nutrition programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

(See State of Obesity report pages 14–17 for more on these nutrition and food environment policies.)

Looking forward, we need to build on these initial steps to ensure that adult obesity rates continue to trend in the right direction, including critical policies like:

  • Increase federal resources for evidence-based, effective efforts that reduce obesity-related disparities and related conditions including funding for CDC’s chronic disease and obesity prevention programs, such as the State Physical Activity and Nutrition, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health, and Healthy Tribes
  • Decrease food and nutrition insecurity while improving the nutritional quality of available foods in every community by, among other activities, providing healthy school meals for all students and maintaining progress on the final 2024 school nutritional meal standards. In addition, Congress should expand access to nutrition support programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC, and increase the value of their benefits.
  • To help consumers make informed choices, the Food and Drug Administration should swiftly implement a front-of-package label that will help people more easily understand the nutrients of concern in packaged foods.

(See State of Obesity 2024 recommendations on pages 67–76 for additional measures policymakers should take to continue to make progress in efforts to help all Americans maintain a healthy weight.)

“It is welcome news that the latest NHANES data suggest the overall adult obesity rate in this country has not been increasing in recent years,” said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health. “However, much more needs to be done to address this health crisis. This is a critical moment to increase our efforts: boost and sustain investment in proven obesity prevention policies and programs and build healthier communities where everyone has access to affordable, nutritious foods and safe places to engage in physical activity.”

The new NHANES report also highlights the link between obesity and socioeconomic status. Like previous years, the new data show clear differences in obesity prevalence by educational attainment, with lower obesity rates for adults with a bachelor’s degree (31.6 percent) than in adults with less education (high school diploma or less (44.6 percent) and those with some college (45.0 percent). This underscores the critical role of policies and programs that boost accessibility and affordability of healthy food for all Americans.

Notably, the newly released report does not include data by race/ethnicity, though we hope that will be released later this year. Previous years’ data have shown large differences in obesity prevalence and trends by race/ethnicity. Understanding trends across different racial/ethnic groups, and if disparities are increasing or decreasing, is essential for a complete picture and successful policy response.

See TFAH’s State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America report for more information about obesity rates and solutions.

 

 

 

How Healthy People 2030 Has Led to Success Changing the Narrative on Healthy Aging

September is National Healthy Aging Month, and Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) is proud that its Age-Friendly Public Health Systems initiative (AFPHS) has led to state, local, and tribal efforts to help older adults remain active and independent and reframe the narrative around aging.

The AFPHS initiative aligns with National Healthy Aging Month and Healthy People 2030, a federal initiative that identifies public health priorities to help individuals, organizations, and communities across the United States improve health and well-being. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with a diverse group of partners and organizations, leads and manages the Healthy People initiative, which sets national objectives every 10 years. TFAH is honored to be officially recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. The current iteration of the Healthy People initiative incorporates a variety of new objectives and targets for improving conditions for older adults. (See full list here).

Both Healthy People 2030 and TFAH’s AFPHS 6C’s Framework emphasize community partnerships and effective communication to meet the needs of older adults. Through the AFPHS initiative, TFAH has worked closely with federal partners to encourage and support  collaboration between state, local, tribal, and territorial public health and aging agencies. Highlights from these collaborations include:

  • A partnership in Hawai’i — the Kūpuna Collective — that supports age-inclusive ways to maximize health, independence, and engagement among older adults. Network members include foundations, nonprofit and community-based organizations, healthcare organizations, and academic institutions.
  • Implementation of the Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) program by the Georgia Departments of Health and Aging Services to promote mental health among older adults and limit access to lethal means of suicide.
  • A joint effort among tribal nations in Region 6 to provide training, resources, services, and funding for improving nutrition education and supplying meals.

Building an age-friendly ecosystem that holistically supports healthy aging should be a priority in communities across the country since nearly a quarter of the U.S. population is expected to be 65 years or older by 2060.

TFAH co-hosted the National Healthy Aging Symposium with ODPHP on September 26, 2024 to elevate successful innovations that improve older adult health and well-being and provide a forum to learn from experts in fields like brain health, caregiving, and social determinants of health.

The National Healthy Aging Symposium

Nuevo informe: La obesidad adulta en EE. UU. alcanza niveles epidémicos

Las tasas de obesidad son predominantemente más elevadas en las comunidades que experimentan obstáculos para una alimentación sana y en las que tienen pocas oportunidades para la actividad física.

(Washington, DC – 12 de septiembre de 2024) – Según un informe publicado el día de hoy por Trust for America’s Health (TFAH, por sus siglas en inglés.) Las tasas de obesidad entre los adultos estadounidenses eran iguales o superiores al 35% en veintitrés estados en 2023, lo que representa un aumento de varias décadas en las tasas de estadounidenses que viven con obesidad. En 2012, ningún estado tenía una tasa de obesidad en adultos igual o superior al 35%.

El informe Estado de la obesidad 2024: Mejores políticas para una America más saludable, incluye el análisis de TFAH de los datos más recientes del Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo del Comportamientos (BRFSS) de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC).  La obesidad y otras enfermedades relacionadas con la dieta se asocian a una serie de afecciones físicas y mentales, mayor mortalidad, mayores costos sanitarios y pérdidas de productividad.

Los estados con las tasas más altas de obesidad entre los adultos en 2023 fueron Virginia Occidental (41,2 por ciento), Misisipi (40,1 por ciento), Arkansas (40,0 por ciento), Luisiana (39,9 por ciento) y Alabama (39,2 por ciento). Entre 2022 y 2023, tres estados experimentaron aumentos estadísticamente significativos en sus tasas de obesidad adulta: Alaska, Arkansas y Oregón, mientras que ningún estado tuvo un descenso estadísticamente significativo. Entre 2018 y 2023, 28 estados experimentaron aumentos estadísticamente significativos en las tasas de obesidad adulta.

Los estados con niveles más bajos de obesidad adulta en 2023 fueron el Distrito de Columbia (23,5 por ciento), Colorado (24,9 por ciento), Hawai (26,1 por ciento), Massachusetts (27,4 por ciento) y California (27,7 por ciento).

A nivel nacional, más de cuatro de cada diez adultos estadounidenses padecen de obesidad. Aunque las tasas de obesidad han aumentado en todos los grupos de la población, los grupos con las tasas más altas son con frecuencia las poblaciones de color, ya que enfrentan obstáculos a nivel de estructura para lograr una alimentación sana, algunas de estas limitaciones incluyen, el costo, acceso a los alimentos, la falta de oportunidades y lugares para realizar actividad física. Los adultos negros y latinos y las personas que viven en comunidades rurales tienden a tener las tasas más altas de obesidad.

Las tasas de obesidad también están aumentando entre niños y adolescentes, casi el 20% de los niños y adolescentes estadounidenses entre 2 y 19 años padecen obesidad. Estas tasas se han más que triplicado desde mediados de la década de 1970, los jóvenes negros y latinos tienen tasas de obesidad sustancialmente más elevadas en comparación con sus pares blancos.

Una sección especial del informe analiza el entorno alimentario del país y los factores que afectan al consumo de alimentos, como las políticas alimentarias, la oferta, el suministro, el acceso y los precios, así como la influencia de la publicidad de alimentos en lo que la gente consume. La sección analiza las oportunidades que tienen los responsables políticos para hacer que el entorno alimentario sea más propicio para una alimentación sana, especialmente en las comunidades con bajos ingresos.

“El número de personas que viven con obesidad y las tasas de enfermedades relacionadas con la obesidad siguen aumentando, por lo que urge dar respuestas políticas a nivel sistémico”, ha declarado la Dra. J. Nadine Gracia, MSCE, presidenta y directora general de Trust for America’s Health. “La epidemia de la obesidad no se debe únicamente al comportamiento individual, sino que también influyen factores socioeconómicos y ambientales que escapan en gran medida al control de cualquier persona. Los responsables políticos deben actuar para hacer frente a esta creciente crisis sanitaria.”

Se necesitan medidas políticas

El informe incluye recomendaciones políticas basadas en pruebas para funcionarios federales, estatales y locales, así como para otras partes interesadas, como el sector sanitario y la industria alimentaria. Entre las medidas políticas recomendadas se incluyen:

Aumentar los recursos federales para lograr reducir las disparidades relacionadas con la obesidad y las afecciones relacionadas, otorgando financiamiento para los programas de prevención de enfermedades crónicas y obesidad de los CDC, incluidos los programas estatales de Actividad Física y Nutrición, Enfoques Raciales y Étnicos para la Salud Comunitaria y Tribus Saludables.

Disminuir la inseguridad alimentaria y nutricional para mejorar la calidad nutricional de los alimentos disponibles en cada comunidad, entre otras actividades, proporcionando comidas escolares saludables para todos los estudiantes y manteniendo el progreso en las normas finales de comidas nutricionales escolares de 2024. Además, el Congreso debe ampliar el acceso a los programas de apoyo a la nutrición como el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) y el Programa Especial de Nutrición Suplementaria para Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (WIC) y aumentar el valor de sus beneficios.

Ayudar a los consumidores a elegir con conocimiento de causa, la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos debe implantar rápidamente una etiqueta en la parte frontal del envase que ayude a comprender de manera sencilla los nutrientes de los alimentos envasados.

Eliminar los vacíos tributarios y las deducciones de costos empresariales por la publicidad de alimentos y bebidas poco saludables dirigida a los niños. También puede fomentarse la elección de alimentos y bebidas saludables imponiendo impuestos a las bebidas azucaradas.

Garantizar que todas las comunidades dispongan de un entorno que fomente el transporte activo, por ejemplo, ir a pie o en bicicleta a los destinos cotidianos y de lugares seguros para realizar actividades físicas, como parques y otros lugares para jugar dentro y fuera de casa.

Los legisladores, la atención médica y la salud pública, entre otras partes interesadas, deberían lograr que el acceso a la atención sanitaria este al alcance de todos, expandiendo Medicaid y ofreciendo un buen mercado de salud que sea asequible para todos. Medicaid, Medicare y otros programas deberían cubrir los servicios relacionados con la obesidad sin que el paciente tenga que compartir los costos.

El Congreso debe abordar las causas que producen las enfermedades crónicas e incentivar la colaboración multisectorial para abordar los factores sociales y componentes ambientales que afectan la condición de salud, la atención medica y las aseguradoras deben continuar expandiendo estrategias para evaluar y reembolsar las necesidades sociales relacionadas con la salud de los pacientes.

Lea el informe completo

 

Trust for America’s Health es una organización no partidista y sin ánimo de lucro dedicada a la investigación, la política y la defensa de la salud pública, que promueve una salud óptima para todas las personas y comunidades y hace de la prevención de enfermedades y lesiones una prioridad nacional. www.tfah.org

 

 

 

New Report: U.S. Rates of Obesity Among Adults at Epidemic Levels

Obesity Rates are Predominantly Highest in Communities Experiencing Barriers to Healthy Eating and Those with Few Opportunities for Physical Activity

(Washington, DC – September 12, 2024) – Obesity rates for U.S. adults were at or higher than 35 percent in twenty-three states in 2023, part of a multi-decade increase in the rates of Americans living with obesity, according to a report released today by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). In 2012, no state had an adult obesity rate at or above the 35 percent level.

The report, State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America includes TFAH’s analysis of the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.  Obesity and other diet-related diseases are associated with a range of physical and mental health conditions, higher mortality, higher healthcare costs, and productivity losses.

The states with the highest rates of obesity among adults in 2023 were West Virginia (41.2 percent), Mississippi (40.1 percent), Arkansas (40.0 percent), Louisiana (39.9 percent), and Alabama (39.2 percent). Between 2022 and 2023, three states experienced statistically significant increases in their adult obesity rates: Alaska, Arkansas, and Oregon, while no states had a statistically significant decline. Between 2018 and 2023, 28 states have experienced statistically significant increases in adult obesity rates.

States with lowest levels of adult obesity in 2023 were District of Columbia (23.5 percent), Colorado (24.9 percent), Hawaii (26.1 percent), Massachusetts (27.4 percent), and California (27.7 percent).

Nationally, over four in 10 U.S. adults have obesity. While obesity rates have increased for all population groups, groups with the highest rates, often populations of color, typically face structural barriers to healthy eating, including food cost and access, and a lack of opportunities and places to be physically active. Black and Latino adults and people living in rural communities tend to have the highest rates of obesity.

Obesity rates are also increasing among children and adolescents, with nearly 20 percent of U.S. children and adolescents, ages 2 to 19, having obesity. These rates have more than tripled since the mid-1970s, and Black and Latino youth have substantially higher rates of obesity compared to their white peers.

A special section within the report looks at the country’s food environment and factors that affect food consumption such as food policy, supply, access, and pricing, and the influence of food advertising on what people eat. The section discusses opportunities for policymakers to make the food environment more conducive to healthy eating, especially within low-income communities.

“As the number of people living with obesity, as well as the rates of obesity-related disease continue to rise, there’s an urgent need for systems level policy responses,” said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health. “The obesity epidemic is not only about individual behavior; socioeconomic and environmental factors which are largely beyond any one person’s control have a significant role. Policymakers need to act to address this growing health crisis.”

Policy action is needed

The report includes evidence-based policy recommendations for federal, state, and local officials, as well as other stakeholders such as the healthcare sector and the food industry. Recommended policy actions include:

Increase federal resources for effective efforts that reduce obesity-related disparities and related conditions including funding for CDC’s chronic disease and obesity prevention programs, including State Physical Activity and Nutrition, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health, and Healthy Tribes programs.

Decrease food and nutrition insecurity while improving the nutritional quality of available foods in every community by, among other activities, providing healthy school meals for all students and maintaining progress on the final 2024 school nutritional meal standards. In addition, Congress should expand access to nutrition support programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and increase the value of their benefits.

To help consumers make informed choices, the Food and Drug Administration should swiftly implement a front-of-package label that will help people more easily understand the nutrients in packaged foods.

Eliminate tax loopholes and business cost deductions for the advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Healthy food and drink choices can also be encouraged by taxing sugar-sweetened beverages.

Ensure that every community has a built environment that encourages active transportation, e.g., walking and biking to everyday destinations, and safe places to be physically active including parks and other places for indoor and outside play.

Policymakers, healthcare, public health, and other stakeholders should close gaps in healthcare access by expanding Medicaid and by making marketplace coverage more affordable. Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers should cover obesity-related services without patient cost sharing.

Congress should address root causes of chronic diseases by incentivizing multi-sector collaborations to address social and nonmedical drivers of health and healthcare and insurers should continue to expand strategies to screen and reimburse for patients’ health-related social needs.

Read the full report

 

Trust for America’s Health is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public health research, policy, and advocacy organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority.  www.tfah.org

 

 

 

National Immunization Month Highlights Lifesaving Benefits of Vaccines

August 2024

National Immunization Awareness Month sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) and observed every August, highlights the lifesaving benefits of vaccines. During the month, activities will raise awareness of the importance of vaccinating people of all ages against serious and sometimes deadly diseases. The awareness month also celebrates the successes of immunizations and educates Americans about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, from December 2020 through November 2022, COVID-19 vaccines prevented approximately 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths in the U.S., but the lifesaving impact of vaccines extends far beyond COVID-19. Vaccines have dramatically reduced the spread of diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough, protecting countless individuals and communities.

According to new data published this month by the CDC, among children born during 1994-2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented about 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.

Unfortunately, numerous factors have led to a decline in vaccination rates in recent years including healthcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness. In some cases, this has resulted in outbreaks of once-controlled diseases, including measles and to a lesser degree polio, jeopardizing the progress we have made.

According to the American Association of Immunologists, getting vaccinated protects against the spread of infectious diseases by helping our immune systems fight infection. Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactive form of a virus or bacteria to the body. This triggers the immune system to develop antibodies, creating a kind of shield against future infection. When a large portion of the population is vaccinated, it creates “herd” or community-level immunity, making it difficult for diseases to spread, even protecting those who haven’t been vaccinated themselves.

The public health benefits of vaccines include:

Disease Prevention: Vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, chickenpox, shingles, influenza, and pneumonia. These diseases can cause severe complications, hospitalization, and even death.

Reduced Healthcare Costs: Vaccines are a cost-effective way to prevent illness and its associated medical expenses. Vaccination programs save billions of dollars in healthcare costs each year.

Protection for Populations at Higher Risk: Vaccines are especially important for protecting those with developing immune systems (infants) or weakened immune systems, such as older adults and people with certain chronic illnesses.

Global Health Impact: Vaccination programs have had a significant impact on global health. They have helped to virtually eliminate smallpox and dramatically reduced the burden of other diseases worldwide.

To build on and sustain the health benefits of vaccines, TFAH’s 2024 Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report includes a number of important recommended policy actions to strengthen the nation’s vaccine infrastructure:

  • Increased Funding: Congress should provide at least $1.1 billion per year to support vaccine infrastructure and delivery, including programs promoting equitable vaccine distribution.
  • Insurance Coverage: Congress and states should ensure first-dollar coverage for recommended vaccines under commercial insurance and for uninsured populations.
  • Minimizing Exemptions: States should minimize vaccine exemptions for schoolchildren, and healthcare facilities should increase vaccination rates of healthcare workers.
  • New Vaccine Development: Congress should create incentives for new-product discovery to prevent and fight resistant infections including therapeutics, diagnostics, and prevention products such as vaccines.
  • Strengthening Influenza Defenses: Congress should strengthen the pipeline of influenza vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
  • Countering Vaccine Misinformation:The spread of misinformation about vaccines can lead to vaccine hesitancy and lower vaccination rates. TFAH calls for promoting accurate information from trusted sources to increase vaccine confidence.

According to research published in The Lancet, since 1974, vaccination has prevented 154 million deaths worldwide. By ensuring equitable access to vaccines, promoting accurate information, and investing in research and education, we can continue to harness the power of vaccines and build a healthier future for all.

 

U.S. Deaths Due to Alcohol, Drugs, and Suicide Down Slightly After Years of Growth

Data Show First Improvement in Combined Substance Misuse and Suicide Mortality Rate in Five Years but Multidecade Trends Remain Alarmingly High

(Washington, DC – July 31, 2024) – A decrease in the alcohol-induced mortality rate led to a slightly lower combined rate of all U.S. deaths due to alcohol, drugs, and suicide in 2022, but the long-term trend of such deaths is still alarmingly high, according to a report released today by Trust for America’s Health.

The report, Pain in the Nation 2024: the Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths, includes data showing that between 2002 and 2022, combined rate of deaths due to alcohol, drugs, and suicide have increased by 142 percent from 74,003 deaths in 2002 to 207,827 deaths in 2022.

For 2022, the alcohol-induced mortality rate decreased by six percent to 13.5 deaths per 100,000 people, the first decrease in the rate after more than a decade of increases, but death rates for drug overdose and suicide remained unchanged.

Rates and trends for deaths due to substance misuse and suicide vary across population groups and states and regions of the country. While all population groups have experienced increases in substance misuse and suicide deaths over the last two decades, American Indian and Alaska Native people, Black people, and white people have higher than average combined rates for alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths.

In 2022, states with the highest rates of deaths due to alcohol, drugs, and suicide were New Mexico (124.3 deaths per 100,000 people), West Virginia (115.7 deaths per 100,000 people), and Alaska (104.1 deaths per 100,000 people).

Substance use and drug overdose

The overall age-adjusted drug overdose mortality rate was virtually unchanged from 2021 to 2022 (32.4 deaths per 100,000 people and 32.6 deaths per 100,000 respectively), but despite the flat trend, 107,941 people died in the U.S. due to a drug overdose in 2022.

According to data collected by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2022 approximately 70 million people in the U.S. aged 12 and older – about one-quarter of the adolescent and adult population – reported using one or more illegal drugs and just under 10 percent of people aged 12 and over in the U.S. had a drug use disorder.

Drug overdose rates were highest among American Indian/Alaska Native people at 65.2 deaths per 100,000 people, adults ages 35 to 54 (59.4 deaths per 100,000), Black people (47.5 deaths per 100,000), and males (45.6 deaths per 100,000).

Alcohol Misuse

Despite the decrease in alcohol-induced deaths in 2022, 51,191 people in the U.S. died from alcohol-induced causes during the year. Alcohol-induced deaths were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people (78.4 deaths per 100,000 people) and adults ages 55 to 74 (34.9 deaths per 100,000 people).

Suicide Deaths

In 2022, 49,476 people in the U.S. died from suicide. Overall mortality due to suicide was virtually unchanged between 2021 and 2022: 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people and 14.2 deaths per 100,000, respectively.

The highest rate of suicide was among American Indian/Alaska Native people (27.1 deaths per 100,000 people), males (23 deaths per 100,000), older adults (21 deaths per 100,000), and people living in rural areas (20.5 deaths per 100,000). Suicide mortality between age groups moved in different directions with suicide deaths among young people (ages 0-17 and 18 – 34) decreasing while increasing for all older age groups.

“While the stabilization in the combined rate of alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths in 2022 is promising news, it is overshadowed by decades of tragically increasing numbers of such deaths and spotlights the need to continue to apply evidence-based solutions in order to save lives,” said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO, Trust for America’s Health. “We have strategies that we know work, including early prevention and harm reduction strategies, creating safe and supportive schools, ensuring access to mental and behavioral healthcare, and creating community conditions that support children and families. We need to invest in these policies and programs.”

Report Recommendations

The report includes recommendations for steps that federal, state, local government and other stakeholders should take to address the substance misuse and suicide crisis, including:

Invest in prevention and community conditions that promote health, including programs to reduce adverse childhood experiences and those that support families and offer trauma-informed and culturally appropriate services for youth.

Reduce overdose risk and access to lethal means of suicide through harm reduction programs including syringe services programs, access to overdose prevention medications like naloxone, and promoting safe storage of all firearms.

Strengthen the mental health and substance use prevention system by continuing to build a continuum of crisis intervention programs, ensuring access to mental health and substance use services, and growing the mental health workforce while increasing its diversity and offering more culturally and linguistically responsive services.

Read the full report

Trust for America’s Health is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public health policy, research, and advocacy organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority.