What Rising Deaths of Despair Among Latinos Reveal

So-called deaths of despair —preventable deaths linked to social and economic hardships such as suicide, overdoses, and alcohol-related illnesses— have grown significantly among the Latino population in the United States.

CDC records show increases of 115% in overdoses, 29% in suicides, and 18% in deaths from alcohol between 2015 and 2024. Additionally, experts from Harvard University and CUNY warn that chronic stress from operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, and acculturation weaken community social fabric.

What Are Deaths of Despair?

The concept of deaths of despair defines premature and preventable deaths caused by suicide, problematic alcohol use, and overdoses from illicit substances. Historically, this phenomenon was associated with rural sectors of the white working class. However, recent epidemiological analyses confirm its spread to racial and ethnic minorities.

For decades, Hispanics defied public health predictions through greater life expectancy. This occurred despite experiencing lower incomes and barriers to medical access. Dr. Luisa Borrell, an epidemiologist at the City University of New York, known as CUNY, explained to NBC News that this advantage lay in the protective effect of multigenerational families and community ties.

However, that protective shield shows severe signs of weakening due to advancing acculturation and social isolation of families. Between 2015 and 2024, the epidemiological landscape changed drastically for Hispanics in U.S. territory:

• Drug overdoses: 115% increase in the evaluated period.
• Suicides: 29% increase in mortality rate.
• Alcohol-related illnesses: 18% increase in official records.

Why Is the So-Called Latino Health Paradox Weakening?

The Hispanic population in the country, estimated at 68 million people according to Pew Research Center estimates, comprises a growing proportion of people born in U.S. territory. On the other hand, Pew Research Center documented that 79% of Latinos in the country were U.S. citizens in 2024. This percentage was higher than the 71% recorded in the year 2000.

This demographic transformation exposes new generations to risk factors similar to those of the general population.