During 2001–2021, age-adjusted suicide rates involving firearms, suffocation, and other methods generally increased, and those involving poisoning decreased. Rates of firearm-related suicide were stable from 2001 (5.9 deaths per 100,000 population) to 2006 (5.5), and then increased through 2021 (7.5). Rates of suffocation-related suicide increased from 2.2 deaths in 2001 to 4.3 in 2018, and then decreased slightly through 2021 (3.8). After a period of increasing and then stable rates during 2001–2016, suicide rates attributed to poisoning decreased from 2.0 in 2016 to 1.6 in 2021. Firearm-related suicide had the highest rates during the period.

During 2020–2021, the unintentional drowning death rate was 1.1 deaths per 100,000 population among children and adolescents aged 0–17 years. Rates were higher among males (1.5) than females (0.7). Among children aged <1 year, boys and girls had similar unintentional drowning death rates (1.0), whereas rates were higher for males than for females among those aged 1–4 (3.8 versus 2.1), 5–13 (0.7 versus 0.3), and 14–17 years (1.4 versus 0.2). Rates were highest among those aged 1–4 years among all children and adolescents and among all males and females compared with other age groups.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown an association between psychological distress and overdose death among specific populations. However, few studies have examined this relationship in a large US population-based cohort. METHODS: Data from the 2010-2018 NHIS were linked to mortality data from the National Death Index through 2019. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6 scale. Drug overdose deaths were examined, and deaths from all other causes were included as a comparison group. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate mortality risk by psychological distress level. RESULTS: The study population included 272,561 adults. Adjusting for demographic covariates and using no psychological distress as the reference, distress level was positively associated with the risk of overdose death: low (HR = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.1-2.8), moderate (HR = 4.1, 95 % CI = 2.5-6.7), high (HR = 10.3, 95 % CI = 6.5-16.1). A similar pattern was observed for deaths from all other causes: low (HR = 1.2, 95 % CI = 1.1-1.2), moderate (HR = 1.9, 95 % CI = 1.7-2.0), high (HR = 2.6, 95 % CI = 2.4-2.8). LIMITATIONS: Limited substance use information prevented adjustment for this potentially important covariate. DISCUSSION: Adults with psychological distress were at greater risk of drug overdose death, relative to those without psychological distress. Adults with psychological distress were also at increased risk of death due to other causes, though the association was not as strong.