Women were more likely to overdose during COVID pandemic

While men were far likelier to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder during the pandemic, women were more likely to overdose, according to a new FAIR Health analysis provided to Axios.

Why it matters: The study of private insurance claims shows the rising burden of substance use across the U.S.

The percentage of patients with a substance use disorder diagnosis decreased from 3.5% of all patients in 2019 before the pandemic to 3.4% in 2021.

Yes, but: The number of patients with an overdose diagnosis increased 4.3%.

• From 2019 to 2021, 42 states saw an increase in the proportion of patients with opioid and opioid-like drug overdoses compared to the total number of patients using medical services, ranging from 148.4% in Pennsylvania to 0.7% in Minnesota.
• New Mexico and Oklahoma had the highest proportion of patients with an overdose diagnosis over that period.
• Between 2016 and 2021, about 62% of substance use disorder diagnoses were among males. 
• In that same period, about 60% of overdose diagnoses were among females.