Severe flooding linked to increased deaths from opioid use in rural Appalachia

MedicalXpress | июл 20, 2026

Severe flooding may contribute to higher mortality rates from opioid use in rural Appalachia, according to a study by researchers at Penn State. The findings—published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—are particularly relevant as severe floods are increasing in prevalence and severity because of climate change, said Kristina Brant, assistant professor of rural sociology and co-lead author of the paper.