For the last two decades, U.S. communities stricken by automotive plant closures have been hurting. So they combed through statistics on opioid deaths in 112 counties that either had an automotive factory or were within commuting distance of one. But when the researchers looked at the five years following each plant closure, they found a powerful link to opioid deaths. In the 29 counties affected by closures, there were 20.6 opioid deaths per 100,000 people each year. That increase was 85% higher than the rates at which opioid deaths grew in the 83 counties without closures.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 03, 2020 12:56 UTC