In Appalachia, deaths from ‘diseases of despair’ continue to outpace the nation

By: Anita Wadhwani

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: May 6, 2026

Words: 292

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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The Appalachian region, encompassing a 206,000 square-mile span from southern New York to northern Mississippi, continues to suffer the highest rate of mortality in the nation from so-called ‘diseases of despair,” a new report finds.

Diseases of despair are defined by the report as drug overdoses, suicide and liver disease/cirrhosis. While rates of these preventable deaths fell overall in Appalachia — and nationwide — between 2021 and 2023 since a 2021 peak during the COVID …

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