QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates for Four Selected Mechanisms of Injury — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1979–2019

In 1979, of the four mechanisms of injury, age-adjusted mortality rates were highest for motor vehicle traffic deaths and lowest for drug poisoning deaths.

From 1979 to 2019, the age-adjusted rate of motor vehicle traffic deaths decreased from 22.1 per 100,000 to 11.1, and the rate of firearm-related deaths decreased from 14.7 to 11.9.

During the same period, the rate of drug poisoning (overdose) deaths increased from 3.0 to 21.6, and the rate of fall-related deaths increased from 6.2 to 10.1. In 2019, the rates were highest for drug poisoning deaths and lowest for fall-related deaths.

Source: National Vital Statistics System compressed mortality file, underlying cause of death. https://wonder.cdc.gov/mortsql.html

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7020a4.htm