Julia M Lappin

1 month ago | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Shane Darke |Michael Farrell |Wayne Hall |Julia M Lappin

The term ‘deaths of despair’ has gained a great deal of currency. Although postulated from concern and with good intent, the term is misguided in theory, unsupported in fact and misinforming in its implications. The term ‘deaths of despair’ gained a great deal of currency as shorthand for three causes of death—drug overdoses, suicides and alcohol-related liver disease [1].