In Appalachia, severe floods are linked to spikes in opioid overdose deaths, new research finds.
In Appalachia, Severe Floods Linked to Spikes Opioid DeathsAcross the U.S., the heaviest downpours are becoming more severe, giving rise to more intense floods. The new study, which analyzed flooding and mortality data from counties across Appalachia, found surges in lethal overdoses following severe floods, with the effects persisting for up to a decade. On average, yearly opioid deaths rose by 26 percent in the year or two after a flood, according to the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.e360.yale.edu