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Severe floods increase long-term opioid overdose mortality

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  • Brant, Kristina
  • Ge, Mengjun
  • Lei, Zhen

Abstract

The relationship between climate disasters and substance use harms has been understudied. This study employs a mixed methods research design to assess the impact of severe floods on overdose deaths and identify relevant mechanisms driving this relationship. Drawing on opioid overdose death data from NCHS, presidential disaster declarations from FEMA, and severe storm event data from NOAA, we find severe floods in rural Appalachia led to a significant increase in county-level overdose death rates that persists for a decade post-flood. We then collected retrospective qualitative data from 17 stakeholders regarding the floods that occurred in Eastern Kentucky in July 2022. Interviews suggest this increase is perpetuated by decreased access to treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services; increased trauma; increased instability; and persistent stigma around help-seeking. Due to the predicted continuation of these disasters, understanding their impact on substance use harms is essential to mitigating future damage.

Suggested Citation

  • Brant, Kristina & Ge, Mengjun & Lei, Zhen, 2025. "Severe floods increase long-term opioid overdose mortality," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360761, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea25:360761
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.360761
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