TFAH: "2023 Pain in the Nation" Report
Written by Brandon Reavis, J.D., Senior Government Relations Manager, Trust For America’s Health
The United States is facing a mental health crisis characterized by rising rates of anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and addiction among Americans of all ages and backgrounds. In the past decade, the number of people in the country with mental health disorders has increased, leading to a surge in substance-related deaths and suicides. Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) recently published its 2023 Pain in the Nation report, revealing an 11 percent increase in deaths caused by alcohol, drugs, and suicide in 2021. This alarming trend has been ongoing for the past two decades, with fatalities doubling between 2011 and 2021 and drug overdose deaths rising by over 60 percent from 2016 to 2021.
In addition to this startling statistic, the 2023 report also highlights the disproportionately high death rates among specific communities, including American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people and Black people:
• Drug overdose deaths increased by 14 percent between 2020 and 2021, with larger increases among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, AI/AN people, and among youth and older adults. For the year, drug overdose rates were highest among adults ages 35 to 54, males, Black people, and young adults ages 18 to 34.
• Alcohol-induced deaths increased by 10 percent between 2020 and 2021, with the highest increases among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, Latino people, and AI/AN people.
• Suicide mortality increased by 4 percent between 2020 and 2021, with the highest increases among AI/AN people and Black people.
The report also raises concerns about the mental health of U.S. youth. Over the past decade, deaths among youth aged 10 to 17 from alcohol, drugs, and suicide have increased by 65 percent. While the suicide rate among youth is lower than that of the general population, the sharp upward trend—a 71 percent increase from 2010 to 2021—demands immediate attention. Certain groups, such as AI/AN and LGBTQ+ youth, face a higher risk of poor mental health and suicidal behavior.
The report includes recommendations for federal, state, and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to combat substance misuse and suicide deaths. These recommendations include:
· Investing in prevention programs
· Supporting syringe service programs to prevent substance misuse and overdose
· Transforming the mental health and substance use prevention system
· Expanding access to culturally appropriate care
· Additional funding for public health programs, including:
o Research on adverse childhood experiences
o Violence prevention
o School-based interventions
o Community health workforce
o Syndromic surveillance programs
o Climate-related mental health research
o Funding for suicide prevention, specifically for veterans and tribal populations, and research on lethal-means use
These recommendations, along with evidence-based policies and programs, aim to address the impact of childhood trauma, enhance prevention efforts, improve crisis care, and combat the rise of fentanyl-related deaths. By investing in resilience-building programs for youth, supporting families and schools, and increasing access to treatment, the nation can work towards reducing the devastating consequences of the mental health crisis. Failing to take action will perpetuate pain and suffering in American communities, leading to more deaths and long-term consequences.