Marital Status and Deaths from Alcohol, Drug Overdose, and Suicide in the United States: 2000–2021

Abstract

This article is the first to explore variations in alcohol, drug overdose, and suicide deaths in the United States by marital status before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Multiple Cause-of-Death file and the American Community Survey (2000–2021), we found the nonmarried exhibit mortality rates 2 to 3 times higher in alcohol and suicide deaths and 4 to 5 times higher in drug-related deaths compared to the married population, net of education. This magnitude of marriage advantage is comparable to educational differences in these deaths. The marriage advantages are more pronounced for males than females (except in suicide, where gender differences are minor) and for White individuals compared to Black and Hispanic individuals. Furthermore, the marriage advantage widened substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We advocate for viewing these deaths not only through an economic lens but also as manifestations of “social pathology,” urging consideration within broader societal shifts.