Young Adult Mortality Rates Continue to Surge, Study Warns
A concerning new study published in JAMA Network Open recently reveals that young adults in the United States are dying at significantly higher-than-expected rates, driven by drug overdoses, poor health, and other preventable causes.
According to researchers led by Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Ph.D., an associate professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota, the mortality rate among adults aged 25 to 44 was 70% higher in 2023 than it would have been had pre-2011 trends continued. While deaths peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study found that excess mortality remains alarmingly high.
The rising trend in premature deaths was already evident before the pandemic, with a 35% increase in excess deaths among young adults in 2019. During the pandemic, these figures nearly tripled. By 2023, while mortality rates had declined from their pandemic-era peak, early deaths among young adults remained significantly elevated.
The study highlights drug overdoses as a major contributor to young adult deaths, accounting for nearly 32% of fatalities in 2023. Other leading causes included accidents (14%), alcohol-related deaths (9%), and homicides (8%).
Experts warn that chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes—once considered illnesses of old age—are increasingly affecting young adults. “Unfortunately, we have a much higher percentage of our youth who suffer from diseases traditionally associated with older populations,” said Dr. Sanjey Gupta, senior vice president and director of emergency medicine at Northwell Health in Hempstead, N.Y. “Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are appearing in younger individuals, leading to long-term health consequences.”
Researchers suggest that two distinct phases of increased mortality—before and after 2020—could indicate that the pandemic continues to have a lasting impact on young adult health. Some individuals may still be suffering from the long-term effects of severe COVID-19 infections, while others may have missed critical healthcare interventions due to pandemic-related disruptions.
With the mortality crisis among young adults showing no signs of reversing, experts stress the need for urgent intervention. Public health initiatives targeting substance abuse, mental health, and preventive healthcare could play a crucial role in curbing excess deaths.
“The largest portion of 2023 excess mortality was driven by drug poisoning, but many other external and natural causes exceeded what prior trends would have projected,” the researchers wrote. Without immediate action, the study warns, the trend of rising premature deaths could continue to worsen.