Ten-year review of sudden and unexpected deaths among people experiencing homelessness

September 29, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

A ten-year review of sudden and unexpected deaths among people experiencing homelessness offers a heartbreaking reminder: The median age of death was 51. That compares to an overall median age of 79 for all deaths of King County residents.

New report shows increases in cardiovascular, diabetes, unintentional injury deaths, as well as homicides in King County

February 4, 2021.Reading time 12 minutes.

A new report from Public Health—Seattle & King County finds that death rates increased in 2020 for common causes of death in King County, and not only those due to COVID-19. Death rates were higher for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, unintentional injury, drowning, and homicide.

New analysis of COVID-19-associated deaths in King County

September 3, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

Deaths due to COVID-19 illness in King County have slowed dramatically since the early peak of the outbreak in April. However, COVID-19 still ranks overall as the 6th leading cause of deaths in 2020 in King County. These are among the findings in a new report from Public Health—Seattle & King County, “Summary Report on […]

New Overdose Data Suggest Epidemic Outpacing Response

May 9, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

In the US, more people now die each year from drug overdoses than died at the peak of the AIDS epidemic, more than died during the entire Vietnam War. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years of age, and the epidemic cost the US an estimated $117 billion in 2017 alone. Here are some key findings from our report and my perspective on actions we need to take in order to see this epidemic come under control.