FINAL REPORT

Appalachian Diseases of Despair

AUGUST 2017 PREPARED FOR: 

Appalachian Regional Commission 

PREPARED BY:

Michael Meit, MA, MPH

Megan Heffernan, MPH

Erin Tanenbaum, MA

Topher Hoffmann, MPH, MPA
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

The Walsh Center’s mission is to conduct timely policy analyses and research that address the needs of 

government policy makers, clinicians, and the public on issues that affect health care and public health in 

rural America. The Walsh Center is part of the Public Health Research Department at NORC at the 

University of Chicago, and its offices are located in Bethesda, Maryland. The Center is named in honor of 

William B. Walsh, M.D., whose lifelong mission was to bring health care to under-served and hard-to-reach 

populations. For more information about the Walsh Center and its publications, please contact:

Michael Meit, MA, MPH

The Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis

NORC at the University of Chicago

4350 East West Highway, Suite 800

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

301-634-9324

HTTP://WALSHCENTER.NORC.ORG
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

Acknowledgements 

This report was funded by and prepared for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). It was 

commissioned by ARC to study disparities related to diseases of despair in the Appalachian Region. The 

Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis at NORC at the University of Chicago conducted this study. 

Michael Meit, MA, MPH is the lead author and Principal Investigator, and Megan Heffernan, MPH, is the 

Project Manager. Contributing authors to this report were Erin Tanenbaum, MA and Topher Hoffmann, 

MPH, MPA. The research, analysis, and report development were guided by Julie Marshall, PhD, 

Economist at ARC. 

All data analysis, reporting, and subsequent publications were approved by NORC’s Institutional Review 

Board. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ARC or NORC.
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Table of Contents

Introduction...............................................................................................................................1

Methods.....................................................................................................................................2

Findings.....................................................................................................................................4

Overall Mortality..................................................................................................................4

Diseases of Despair: Comparisons between Appalachia and the non-Appalachian U.S. ....5

Diseases of Despair: Appalachian States ...........................................................................8

Diseases of Despair: Disparities within Appalachia...........................................................10

A Closer Look at Overdose Deaths...................................................................................14

Discussion...............................................................................................................................18

Appendix A: ICD-10 Codes.....................................................................................................21

Appendix B: Additional Data Tables......................................................................................22
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List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Appalachian subregions..........................................................................................3

Exhibit 2. All-cause annual mortality rates, ages 15–64, by region (1999–2015)‡*.................4

Exhibit 3. Diseases of despair annual mortality rates, ages 15–64, by region (1999–2015)*‡ 5

Exhibit 4. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and region (2015)‡*..6

Exhibit 5. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by age and region (2015)‡*........7

Exhibit 6. Differences in diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state (2015)‡ ...8

Exhibit 7. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state^ and disease (2015)‡....9

Exhibit 8. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by subregion (2015)‡................10

Exhibit 9. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by subregion and gender 

(2015)‡*................................................................................................................11

Exhibit 10. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and county economic 

status (2015)‡.......................................................................................................12

Exhibit 11. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and rurality 

(2015)‡*................................................................................................................13

Exhibit 12. Overdose mortality rates for males, ages 15–64, by age group and region 

(2015)‡ .................................................................................................................14

Exhibit 13. Overdose mortality rates for females, ages 15–64, by age group and region 

(2015)‡*................................................................................................................15

Exhibit 14. Overdose mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state^ and type of overdose (2015)‡ ...16

Exhibit 15. Underlying cause of death – ICD-10 codes for diseases of despair ......................21

Exhibit 16. Multiple causes of death – ICD-10 codes for opioid-related overdose...................21

Exhibit 17. Overdose and opioid-related mortality rates, comparing Appalachian and nonAppalachian portions of states, ages 15-64, by disease and state (2015)‡...........22

Exhibit 18. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and state^ (2015)‡.23
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Introduction

The Appalachian Region, as defined in the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)’s authorizing 

legislation, is a 205,000-square-mile region that spans the Appalachian Mountains from southern New 

York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, 

Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South 

Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Region includes 420 counties and 8 independent cities in 13 states 

and has a population of 25 million people. 1

Compared to the rest of the nation, the Appalachian Region faces disparities related to educational 

attainment, employment, income, and a number of health outcomes. Prior work conducted by NORC has 

demonstrated disparities in mortality within Appalachia, particularly by levels of rurality. 2, 3 Appalachia’s 

household income is 80 percent of the U.S. average, and 17 percent of Appalachians live below the 

poverty level. 4 Certain Appalachian subregions experience greater disparities than others; for example, 

labor force participation, household income, and bachelor’s degree attainment are lowest in Central 

Appalachia.4, 5, 6

Socioeconomic factors, including education, employment, and income, are potential contributors to the 

growing opioid crisis in the United States. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC), the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving opioids has quadrupled 

since 1999.7 In 2008, NORC conducted a study on behalf of ARC titled, “An Analysis of Mental Health 

Services and Substance Abuse Disparities and Access to Treatment Services in the Appalachian Region,” 

which found that admission rates for primary abuse of opiates and synthetics were higher in Appalachia 

than the rest of the nation, and also growing at a faster pace.8 While this study provided valuable 

information to ARC regarding mental health and substance abuse in the Region, additional research was 

needed to understand how recent trends are impacting Appalachia. 

In 2017, ARC commissioned NORC to investigate “diseases of despair” in Appalachia. Over the past 

several years, research conducted by health economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton has focused on the 

increasing morbidity and mortality from three main causes—alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug 

overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver, which have been referred to as “deaths 

of despair” or “diseases of despair.” 9 The goal of this study was to analyze the impact of the diseases of 

despair on mortality within the Appalachian Region. Specifically, NORC investigated the following 

hypotheses: 

■ Hypothesis 1: Disparities related to diseases of despair are greater within the Appalachian Region 

than the non-Appalachian United States.

■ Hypothesis 2: Appalachian disparities are driving national trends showing rising mortality from 

diseases of despair.

■ Hypothesis 3: Within Appalachia, disparities are concentrated based on Appalachian subregion, 

county economic status, and/or rurality. 
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Methods

This report presents 2015 mortality data from the Multiple Cause of Death database, which is publically 

available through CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER), an 

online data system that provides access to data from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS) National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).10 NVSS collects and presents U.S. resident data for the 

aggregate of 50 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia, as well as for each individual state. 

The Multiple Cause of Death database provides the underlying cause-of-death, as well as up to 20

additional multiple causes, as reported on an individual’s death certificate by a physician, coroner, and/or 

medical examiner. 11 Deaths are coded to the International Classification of Disease Tenth Revision (ICD10) codes. These analyses include the ICD-10 codes referenced by Case and Deaton, reflecting underlying 

cause-of-death from each of the three diseases of despair—alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug 

overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver.

9 In order to determine the percentage 

of alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug overdose deaths attributed to opioids, we use the multiple 

cause-of-death ICD-10 codes that specify the type of drug causing the overdose.12 Appendix A provides 

the underlying cause-of-death ICD-10 codes used to identify the disease of despair, and the multiple 

cause-of-death ICD-10 codes used to identify overdoses caused by opioids. 

Analyses use age-adjusted mortality rates and focus on the population ages 15 to 64; however, select 

analyses report mortality rates by age group (10 year increments between ages 15 and 64). If the 

Appalachian counties in a specific state had fewer than 20 deaths, the state-specific mortality rate for that 

disease of despair is considered unreliable. The few instances of unreliable data are noted in the findings. 

This study aimed to detect differences in the mortality rates from diseases of despair between Appalachia 

and the non-Appalachian United States (the rest of the country, excluding Appalachia), in addition to 

differences by age groups and gender. Statistical significance was assessed at the 0.05 level using twosided significance tests (z-tests). 

Appalachian rates were further analyzed by subregion, county economic status, and levels of rurality. 

Appalachian subregions represent contiguous geographies of relatively homogeneous characteristics 

(topography, demographics, economics, and transportation) and include: Northern, North Central, 

Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. The five Appalachian subregions are shown in Exhibit 

1. ARC’s economic classifications rely on an index of three economic indicators (three-year 

unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rate). Counties are then designated based on 

the index as distressed, at-risk, transitional, competitive, or attainment.13 For these analyses, counties 

were classified as distressed or non-distressed—the non-distressed category includes all counties in the 

four classifications outside of the distressed designation. Lastly, for rurality, we used ARC designations 

of “Metropolitan counties” (counties that include large metropolitan centers of one million population or 

greater and counties with metropolitan centers of less than one million population), and “Nonmetropolitan 

counties” (nonmetro counties adjacent to large metros, nonmetro counties adjacent to small metros, and 

rural counties). These designations are based on a simplification of the UDSA’s Economic Research 

Services (ERS) 2013 Urban Influence Codes (UIC). 14
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Exhibit 1. Appalachian subregions 

 Data source: Appalachian Regional Commission, Created November 2009

GEORGIA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

SOUTH

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

OHIO ILLINOIS INDIANA

WISCONSIN

MICHIGAN

DE

NJ

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

NEW YORK

TENNESSEE

0 50 100

Miles

 

Northern

North Central

Central

South Central

Southern

Subregions
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Findings

Overall Mortality 

The all-cause mortality rate (overall mortality) among individuals ages 15 to 64 in the non-Appalachian 

U.S. steadily declined between 1999 and 2014, before increasing between 2014 and 2015 (see Exhibit 2). 

Between 1999 and 2014, the overall mortality rate in the non-Appalachian U.S. decreased by 10 percent, 

while the overall mortality rate in the Appalachian Region increased by 5 percent—resulting in an 

increasing disparity between the Region and the rest of the nation. In 1999, the all-cause mortality rate in 

Appalachia was 12 percent higher than the rate in the non-Appalachian U.S.—by 2015 this difference had 

increased to 32 percent. 

Between 2014 and 2015, the non-Appalachian U.S. saw its first increase in the overall mortality rate, 

increasing from 270.8 deaths per 100,000 population to 274.5 deaths per 100,000 (a 1.4 percent increase). 

During this same period, the overall mortality rate in the Appalachian Region increased from 352.2 deaths 

per 100,000 to 363.0 deaths per 100,000 (a 3.1 percent increase). Overall mortality in Appalachia is 

increasing at a faster rate than in non-Appalachian U.S., which suggests the increasing mortality rate in 

the Appalachian Region is contributing to the increase in overall mortality in the United States. 

Exhibit 2. All-cause annual mortality rates, ages 15–64, by region (1999–2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age-adjusted. 

*For all years, the Appalachian rates are significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
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Diseases of Despair: Comparisons between Appalachia and the non-Appalachian 

U.S.

Exhibit 3 compares the burden from the diseases of despair between the Appalachian Region and the nonAppalachian U.S from 1999 to 2015. The disparity between the Appalachian Region and the rest of the 

nation has been growing since 1999. In 1999, the mortality rate was slightly higher in the nonAppalachian U.S. than in the Appalachian Region. In both 2004 and 2009, the mortality rate in the 

Appalachian Region was 24 percent higher than the non-Appalachian U.S. By 2014, the difference had 

grown to 32 percent, followed by another increase between 2014 and 2015 as the mortality rate in 

Appalachia reached 66.6 deaths per 100,000 population, which was 37 percent higher than the rest of the 

nation. In 2015, 11,187 deaths among 15 to 64 year olds in Appalachia were attributable to diseases of 

despair. In 2015, the 15 to 64 year old population in the Appalachian Region represented 7.8 percent of 

the total population in the United States for this age group, yet contributed to 10.3 percent of the total 

deaths from diseases of despair.

Exhibit 3. Diseases of despair annual mortality rates, ages 15–64, by region (1999–2015)*‡

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*In all years except 1999, the Appalachian rate is significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Exhibit 4 compares the burden from each disease of despair between the Appalachian Region and the 

non-Appalachian U.S. In 2015, among 15 to 64 year olds in Appalachia, there were 5,594 overdose 

deaths, 3,297 suicide deaths, and 2,296 alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis deaths. Of the three diseases of 

despair, the overall burden in Appalachia and the disparity between Appalachia and the non-Appalachian 

U.S. was most notable for overdose mortality. In 2015, the overdose mortality rate among individuals 

ages 15 to 64 was 65 percent higher in the Appalachian Region compared to the rest of the nation—there 

were 35.4 deaths per 100,000 population in the Region, compared to 21.5 deaths per 100,000 population 
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in the non-Appalachian U.S. While there are also higher mortality rates for suicide and alcoholic liver 

disease/cirrhosis in Appalachia, the disparities are not as large. 

Exhibit 4. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and region (2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*For all diseases, the Appalachian rate is significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

There are differences in mortality from the diseases of despair by age group. The Appalachian Region 

experienced higher rates of mortality than the non-Appalachian U.S. for all 10-year age ranges between 

15 and 64. The disparities between Appalachia and the rest of the nation were the greatest for individuals 

ages 25 to 54, as shown in Exhibit 5. The mortality rate for the 25 to 34 age group in Appalachia was 55 

percent higher than the rate in the non-Appalachian U.S. and 59 percent higher for Appalachians in the 35 

to 44 age group. The burden was greatest among individuals ages 45 to 54, where the mortality rate was 

89.0 deaths per 100,000 population. 
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Exhibit 5. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by age and region (2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*For all age groups, the Appalachian rate is significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
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Diseases of Despair: Appalachian States

For the states in the Appalachian Region, there were differences in mortality rates between the 

Appalachian and non-Appalachian portions of the state. Exhibit 6 shows the percentage difference 

between the mortality rates from the diseases of despair in the Appalachian portion of each state, 

compared to the non-Appalachian portion. West Virginia is omitted because the entire state is included in 

the Appalachian Region. In Appalachian Maryland and Appalachian Virginia, the mortality rates were 63 

and 59 percent higher, respectively, than in the non-Appalachian portions of each state. Mississippi was

the only state where the non-Appalachian counties had higher mortality from the diseases of despair than 

the Appalachian counties. Exhibit 17 in Appendix B shows the mortality rates for the individual diseases 

of despair comparing Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties. 

Exhibit 6. Differences in diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state (2015)‡

‡Rates used to calculate percentage differences are age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Exhibit 7 shows the mortality rate for each individual disease of despair by state. For each state, only the 

mortality rate for the Appalachian portion is shown. For the combined diseases of despair, West Virginia 

and Appalachian Kentucky had the highest mortality rates of all Appalachian states at 95.4 deaths per 

100,000 population and 91.1 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively. The Appalachian portions of 

Mississippi, Georgia, and New York had the lowest combined mortality rates from the diseases of 

despair. Compared to the other states, Appalachian Maryland had the highest proportion of deaths due to 
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overdose. While their combined mortality rates from the diseases of despair were lower overall, 

Appalachian Georgia had the highest proportion of deaths due to suicide, and Appalachian Mississippi 

had the highest proportion of deaths due to alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis. Exhibit 18 in Appendix B 

shows the disease-specific mortality rates, in addition to the combined diseases of despair mortality rate, 

for all states, with comparisons to the non-Appalachian U.S. rates. 

Exhibit 7. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state^ and disease (2015)‡ 

^For states within Appalachia, only the mortality rate for the Appalachian counties is shown. 

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

†Due to small number of deaths, alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis mortality rate is unreliable and not age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

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Diseases of Despair: Disparities within Appalachia 

While the Appalachian Region as a whole experiences disparities attributable to the diseases of despair 

compared to the rest of the United States, there are subregions within Appalachia where the burden is 

most concentrated. The following findings describe the disparities within the Appalachian Region by 

subregion, county economic status, and rurality. 

Within Appalachia, the highest burden of diseases of despair was concentrated in Central Appalachia and 

North Central Appalachia. Exhibit 8 shows the mortality rates for Appalachian subregions. Central 

Appalachia had a mortality rate from the diseases of despair of 94.4 deaths per 100,000 population, which 

was 7 percent higher than the rate in North Central Appalachia, 37 percent higher than the rate in 

Northern Appalachia, 45 percent higher than the rate in South Central Appalachia, and 80 percent higher 

than the rate in Southern Appalachia. Southern Appalachia had the lowest mortality rate from the diseases 

of despair at 52.3 deaths per 100,000 population. 

Exhibit 8. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by subregion (2015)‡

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Exhibit 9 shows mortality rates from the diseases of despair by subregion and gender. While males had a 

significantly higher mortality rate than females in all subregions, the mortality rates for both genders were

the highest in Central and North Central Appalachia. While the overall burden was lower in Northern, 

South Central, and Southern Appalachia compared to Central and North Central Appalachia, the disparity 

between males and females was greater in these subregions. For example, in Northern Appalachia, 

Southern Appalachia, and South Central Appalachia, the mortality rate among males was 2.33 times, 2.30 

times, and 2.24 times the rate among females, respectively. 
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Exhibit 9. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by subregion and gender (2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*For all subregions, the rates for males are significantly different from the rates for females, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Exhibit 10 shows the mortality rate for each individual disease of despair, comparing distressed and nondistressed counties. While overdose deaths were the most common among the three diseases of despair, 

the disparity between the distressed and non-distressed counties was greatest for alcoholic liver 

disease/cirrhosis (38 percent higher in distressed counties). The difference was also significant for 

overdose, as the mortality rate was 34 percent higher in distressed counties. 
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

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Exhibit 10. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and county economic 

status (2015)‡

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*Rates for distressed counties are significantly different from the rates for non-distressed counties, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Findings varied based on rurality, as shown in Exhibit 11. In nonmetro counties, the suicide rate was 15 

percent higher than in metro counties, and the alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis mortality rate was 13 

percent higher. The overdose rate in nonmetro counties was six percent lower in nonmetro counties than 

in metro counties. 
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Exhibit 11. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and rurality (2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*For all diseases, rates for metro counties are significantly different from the rates for nonmetro counties, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

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A Closer Look at Overdose Deaths

The remaining findings focus solely on deaths due to alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug overdose

(overdose deaths). Males in Appalachia between the ages of 25 and 44 experienced notable disparities 

compared to non-Appalachian males. In Appalachia, the overdose mortality rate was 78 percent higher 

among 35 to 44 year olds and 72 percent higher among 25 to 34 year olds compared to non-Appalachian

males. The burden in the Region was also highest for these two age groups, at 61.0 deaths per 100,000 

population and 61.9 deaths per 100,000, respectively. 

Exhibit 12. Overdose mortality rates for males, ages 15–64, by age group and region (2015)‡

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*Appalachian rates are significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate for the same age group, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

FINAL REPORT | 15

While the overall burden was lower among females than males, the disparity between Appalachia and the 

non-Appalachian U.S. in terms of overdose mortality among females was even larger than the disparity 

among males. The female age groups most impacted were 35 to 54 year olds. The overdose mortality rate 

for Appalachian females ages 35 to 44 was more than double the rate for females in the non-Appalachian 

U.S., and among 25 to 34 year olds, the Appalachian rate was 92 percent higher. Among females, the 

highest overdose mortality rate was among 45 to 54 year olds, at 35.8 deaths per 100,000 population. 

Exhibit 13. Overdose mortality rates for females, ages 15–64, by age group and region 

(2015)‡*

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*For all age groups, Appalachian rates is significantly different from the non-Appalachian U.S. rate, p ≤ 0.05

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
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Exhibit 14 shows the total overdose mortality rates, in addition to the opioid-related overdose rates in the 

Appalachian portions of each state. Additionally, Exhibit 15 shows the percentages of overdose deaths 

attributed to opioids in each state. In the Appalachian Region in 2015, 3,859 of the 5,594 overdose 

deaths—69 percent—were caused by opioids. The states with the highest opioid-related overdose 

mortality rates were West Virginia (52.8 deaths per 100,000 population), Appalachian Maryland (41.4 

deaths per 100,000 population), and Appalachian Ohio (40.5 deaths per 100,000 population). These three 

states also had the highest percentages of overdose deaths attributed to opioids within their Appalachian

portions, at 88, 86, and 82 percent, respectively. The opioid-related overdose mortality rate was lowest in 

Appalachian Mississippi (4.4 deaths per 100,000 population), Appalachian Alabama (10.8 deaths per 

100,000 population), and Appalachian Georgia (14.4 deaths per 100,000 population). 

Exhibit 14. Overdose mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state^ and type of overdose (2015)‡ 

^For states within Appalachia, only the mortality rates for the Appalachian counties are shown. 

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

†Due to small number of deaths, opioid mortality rate is unreliable and not age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
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Exhibit 15. Overdose and opioid-related overdose mortality rates, ages 15–64, by state^ 

(2015)‡ 

Overdose Opioid-related Overdose Percent Opioid-related

Alabama 24.7 * 10.8 * 44%

Georgia 19.8 14.4 73%

Kentucky 52.1 * 38.5 * 74%

Maryland 48.4 * 41.4 * 86%

Mississippi 12.9 * 4.4 † 34%

New York 24.3 17.2 * 71%

North Carolina 31.7 * 25.2 * 79%

Ohio 49.1 * 40.5 * 82%

Pennsylvania 42.0 * 24.7 * 59%

South Carolina 30.8 * 22.4 * 73%

Tennessee 33.9 * 24.0 * 71%

Virginia 26.1 19.6 * 75%

West Virginia 59.7 * 52.8 * 88%

Appalachia 35.4 * 24.6 * 69%

Non-Appalachian U.S. 21.5 16.5 64%

^For states within Appalachia, only the mortality rate for the Appalachian counties is shown. 

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*Mortality rate is significantly different than the non-Appalachian U.S. rate for the same disease, p ≤ 0.05

†Due to small number of deaths, opioid mortality rate is unreliable and not age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
NORC | Appalachian Diseases of Despair 

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Discussion

Findings from this study highlight increasing disparities within the Appalachian Region related to 

diseases of despair, and demonstrate ongoing challenges first documented in the 2008 report, “An 

Analysis of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disparities and Access to Treatment Services in the 

Appalachian Region.”8 Summary findings for each of the key project hypotheses include: 

Hypothesis 1: Disparities related to diseases of despair are greater within the 

Appalachian Region than the non-Appalachian United States. 

The combined mortality rate from the diseases of despair was 37 percent higher in Appalachia than the 

non-Appalachian U.S. In 2015, 11,187 deaths in Appalachia among 15 to 64 year olds were attributable to 

diseases of despair. Compared to the rest of the nation, the Appalachian Region experienced higher rates 

of mortality from the diseases of despair for all 10-year age ranges between 15 and 64. The most notable 

disparities existed for the 25 to 44 year age group. More specifically, when analyzing overdose deaths, 25 

to 44 year olds experience mortality rates greater than 70 percent higher than the non-Appalachian U.S. 

These findings have significant implications, particularly in terms of economic development, as 

individuals during their prime working years are most impacted. 

Hypothesis 2: Appalachian disparities are driving national trends showing rising 

mortality from diseases of despair.

The disparity in mortality from the diseases of despair between the Appalachian Region and the nonAppalachian U.S. has been growing over the past two decades. The gap widened dramatically between 

2009 and 2015. For the five years between 2004 and 2009, the mortality rate remained 24 percent higher 

in the Appalachian Region than the non-Appalachian U.S. Between 2009 and 2015, the mortality rate in 

the Region grew to 37 percent higher than the rest of the nation. The high burden of diseases of despair in 

Appalachia, particularly among younger populations, is a contributor to declining life expectancy 

nationally.

Hypothesis 3: Within Appalachia, disparities are concentrated based on 

Appalachian subregion, county economic status, and/or rurality. 

Within Appalachia, the disparities from the diseases of despair were concentrated most in the Central and 

North Central subregions, and also among the economically distressed counties. Specifically in terms of 

overdose deaths, distressed counties had a mortality rate 34 percent higher than non-distressed counties. 

Findings varied by rurality based on the specific disease of despair. While the rate of overdose deaths was 

greater in metro counties in Appalachia, the rates of suicide and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis were 

higher in nonmetro counties. More detailed analyses on opioid-related overdose deaths showed that 69 

percent of the overdose deaths in Appalachia, or 3,859 deaths in 2015, were caused by opioids. The 

Appalachian counties of states within the Region varied dramatically in terms of their overall overdose 

mortality, and also the percentage attributable to opioids. 
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These findings document the scale and scope of the problem in Appalachia, and highlight the need for 

additional research and discussion in terms of effective interventions, policies, and strategies to address 

the diseases of despair. Notably, the opioid crisis has grown across the country since 2015, particularly 

with the emergence of more powerful synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. 15 Given that the data available 

for this study predate these more recent trends, the burden within the Region is likely greater than seen in 

this report.

This study, as well as research from Case and Deaton, have also shown the link between economic status 

and mortality from these causes.16 Economic development strategies and interventions that address other 

underlying contributors to the diseases of despair, in addition to increased access to treatment services, 

prevention, and overdose medications, may be important considerations in addressing this problem. 
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References 

1 Appalachian Regional Commission. The Appalachian Region. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/TheAppalachianRegion.asp

2 Beatty, K. and Meit, M. (2015). Reducing Childhood Obesity and Chronic Disease in Central Appalachia. 

Retrieved from http://www.appalachiafunders.org/data

3 Knudson, A., Meit, M., Tanenbaum, E., Brady, J., Gilbert, T., Klug, M., Arsen, E., Popat, S., Schroeder, S. (2015). 

Exploring Rural and Urban Mortality Differences. NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, Bethesda, 

MD. Retrieved from http://www.norc.org/Research/Projects/Pages/exploring-rural-and-urban-mortalitydifferences.aspx

4 Appalachian Regional Commission. Data Snapshot: Income and Poverty in Appalachia. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/noindex/research/ACS-infographics2011-2015/DataSnapshotIncome+PovertyInAppalachia.pdf

5 Appalachia Regional Commission. Data Snapshot: Employment in Appalachia. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/noindex/research/ACS-infographics2011-2015/DataSnapshot-EmploymentInAppalachia.pdf

6 Appalachia Regional Commission. Data Snapshot: Education in Appalachia. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/noindex/research/ACS-infographics2011-2015/DataSnapshot-EducationInAppalachia-04-06-

2017.pdf

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioid Overdose. Understanding the Epidemic. Retrieved from 

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

8 Zhang, Z., Meit, M., Infante, A., English, N., Dunn, M., & Bowers, K.H. (2008). An Analysis of Mental Heatlh 

and Substance Abuse Disparities & Access to Treatment Services in the Appalachian Region. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/assets/research_reports/AnalysisofMentalHealthandSubstanceAbuseDisparities.pdf

9 Case, A., & Deaton, A. (2015). Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in 

the 21st century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(49), 15078-15083.

10 CDC WONDER. Retrieved from https://wonder.cdc.gov/

11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multiple Cause of Death 1999 – 2015. Retrieved from 

https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/help/mcd.html

12 Rudd, R.A., Seth, P., David, F. & Scholl, L. (2016). Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths —

United States, 2010–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1445–1452. Retrieved from 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm655051e1.htm

13 Appalachian Regional Commission. County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2017. Retrieved from 

https://www.arc.gov/research/MapsofAppalachia.asp?MAP_ID=116

14 United States Department of Agriculture. Urban Influence Codes. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/dataproducts/urban-influence-codes.aspx

15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Synthetic Opioid Data. Retrieved from 

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/fentanyl.html

16 Case, A., & Deaton, A. (2017). Mortality and morbidity in the 21st century. Brookings Papers on Economic 

Activity, 23-24.
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Appendix A: ICD-10 Codes 

Exhibit 15. Underlying cause of death – ICD-10 codes for diseases of despair

Diseases of Despair ICD-10 Code Underlying Cause of Death

Alcoholic poisoning and 

overdoses of 

prescription and illegal 

drugs (Overdose) 

X40-45

Accidental poisoning by and exposure to: nonopioid analgesics, 

antipyretics, and antirheumatics; antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, 

antiparkinsonism, and psychotropic drugs; narcotics and 

psychodysleptics [hallucinogens]; other drugs acting on the 

autonomic nervous system; other and unspecified drugs, 

medicaments, and biological substances; and alcohol

Y10-15

Poisoning by and exposure to the following (undetermined intent): 

nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics and antirheumatics, 

undetermined intent; antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, 

antiparkinsonism and psychotropic drugs; narcotics and 

psychodysleptics [hallucinogens]; other drugs acting on the 

autonomic nervous system; other and unspecified drugs, 

medicaments and biological substances, alcohol)

Y45 Analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs

Y47 Sedatives, hypnotics and antianxiety drugs

Y49 Psychotropic drugs, not elsewhere classified

Suicide 

X60-84 Intentional self-harm

Y87.0 Sequelae of intentional self-harm

Alcoholic liver 

disease/cirrhosis 

K70 Alcoholic liver disease

K73 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified

K74 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver

Exhibit 16. Multiple causes of death – ICD-10 codes for opioid-related overdose 

Disease of Despair ICD-10 Code Multiple Causes of Death

Alcoholic poisoning and 

overdoses of 

prescription and illegal 

drugs (Overdose) 

T40.0 Opium

T40.1 Heroin

T40.2 Other opioids

T40.3 Methadone

T40.4 Other synthetic narcotics

T40.6 Other and unspecified narcotics
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Appendix B: Additional Data Tables 

Exhibit 17. Overdose and opioid-related mortality rates, comparing Appalachian and nonAppalachian portions of states, ages 15-64, by disease and state (2015)‡ 

Overdose Suicide Alcoholic Liver 

Disease/Cirrhosis

Diseases of Despair –

Total

App Non-App App Non-App App Non-App App Non-App

Alabama 24.7 * 18.7 18.8 18.7 12.6 11.4 56.2 * 48.9

Georgia 19.8 * 16.0 17.1 * 14.8 7.9 8.4 44.9 * 39.2

Kentucky 52.1 * 40.3 22.8 21.0 16.2 * 10.9 91.1 * 72.1

Maryland 48.4 * 29.2 18.7 * 10.4 8.5 † 6.1 74.3 * 45.7

Mississippi 12.9 * 17.5 15.1 18.0 12.9 9.9 40.9 45.4

New York 24.3 * 19.1 13.7 * 9.7 8.2 * 5.8 46.1 * 34.6

North Carolina 31.7 * 19.5 21.6 * 15.9 12.1 * 9.9 65.4 * 45.2

Ohio 49.1 * 41.8 18.4 17.7 10.4 10.4 78.0 * 69.8

Pennsylvania 42.0 * 33.6 20.7 * 16.1 9.3 * 6.9 72.1 * 56.5

South Carolina 30.8 * 18.3 23.1 * 18.0 14.2 * 11.6 68.1 * 47.8

Tennessee 33.9 * 27.0 21.1 * 17.9 14.2 * 10.2 69.2 * 55.1

Virginia 26.1 * 16.2 22.5 * 15.4 14.8 * 8.4 63.3 * 39.9

West Virginia 59.7 N/A 21.3 N/A 14.4 N/A 95.4 N/A

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*Appalachian rate is significantly different than the non-Appalachian rate for the same disease, p ≤ 0.05

†Due to small number of deaths, mortality rate is unreliable and not age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html
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Exhibit 18. Diseases of despair mortality rates, ages 15–64, by disease and state^ (2015)‡ 

Overdose Suicide Liver Disease Diseases of 

Despair - Total

Alabama 24.7 * 18.8 * 12.6 * 56.2 *

Georgia 19.8 17.1 7.9 * 44.9 *

Kentucky 52.1 * 22.8 * 16.2 * 91.1 *

Maryland 48.4 * 18.7 8.5 † 74.3 *

Mississippi 12.9 * 15.1 12.9 40.9 *

New York 24.3 13.7 8.2 * 46.1

North Carolina 31.7 * 21.6 * 12.1 65.4 *

Ohio 49.1 * 18.4 10.4 78.0 *

Pennsylvania 42.0 * 20.7 * 9.3 * 72.1 *

South Carolina 30.8 * 23.1 * 14.2 * 68.1 *

Tennessee 33.9 * 21.1 * 14.2 * 69.2 *

Virginia 26.1 22.5 * 14.8 * 63.3 *

West Virginia 59.7 * 21.3 * 14.4 * 95.4 *

Appalachia 35.4 * 19.8 * 11.4 * 66.6 *

Non-Appalachian U.S. 21.5 16.5 10.6 48.6

‡Rates are presented as deaths per 100,000 population. Rates are age adjusted. 

*Rate is significantly different than the non-Appalachian U.S. rates for the same disease, p ≤ 0.05

†Due to small number of deaths, mortality rate is unreliable and not age adjusted. 

Source: Mortality Rates and Standard Errors provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html