Drug-Related Deaths Surge Post-Hurricanes

Study links tropical cyclones to increased drug-related deaths, especially in wealthier, White communities and among younger populations

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has found that tropical cyclones, including hurricanes and tropical storms, are linked to increased rates of drug-related deaths up to three months after the storm passes. The effect was more pronounced in higher-income, White communities and among younger populations, potentially due to disruptions in healthcare access and substance use treatment, as well as increased stress and substance use as a coping mechanism.

Why it matters

This study highlights an overlooked health impact of climate change, as tropical cyclones have become more frequent and severe in recent decades. The findings suggest the need for policymakers and public health authorities to integrate substance use and mental health services into disaster preparedness and response planning.

The details

The study examined over 30 years of data and found that each additional tropical cyclone-exposed day per month was associated with a 3.84% increase in drug-related death rates in the month of exposure and a 3.76% increase in the following month. Elevated risks persisted for up to three months after exposure. The effect was more pronounced in wealthier, White communities, potentially due to greater access to prescription drugs and disruptions in healthcare access, as well as younger populations who may be more sensitive to cyclone-related disruptions in employment, caregiving, and healthcare.

  • The study examined data from 1988 to 2019.

The players

Raenita Spriggs

A Columbia Mailman School doctoral candidate and the study's first author.

Robbie M. Parks

An assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Mailman and the study's senior author.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

The source of the death records used in the study.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The source of the data on tropical cyclones used in the study.

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

The institution where the researchers who conducted the study are based.

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What they’re saying

“When we think of the destructive impact of a hurricane or tropical storm, we often think of flooded neighborhoods and deaths by drowning, but there are other hidden harms linked to these storms, such as increases in drug-related deaths. Tropical cyclones are traumatic and disruptive, and for some people, the stress and instability that follow may push them to use drugs and alcohol in dangerous and deadly ways.”

— Raenita Spriggs, MPH, Columbia Mailman School doctoral candidate and study's first author (Mirage News)

“Tropical cyclones, which have increased in strength, intensity, duration, and activity over recent decades, may exacerbate the ongoing crisis of drug overdoses. It is critically important that policymakers and public health authorities integrate substance use and mental health services into climate disaster preparedness and response planning.”

— Robbie M. Parks, PhD, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Mailman and study's senior author (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers note that they would like to investigate the long-term health impacts that occur years after a tropical cyclone, beyond the immediate drug-related deaths.

The takeaway

This study highlights an overlooked public health impact of climate change, as tropical cyclones become more frequent and severe. It underscores the need for policymakers and public health authorities to integrate substance use and mental health services into disaster preparedness and response planning, particularly in wealthier, White communities and among younger populations who may be more vulnerable to the disruptive effects of these storms.