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  The explanation is below for the five overviews representing the key findings:

1. Vulnerable Population 
2. Alcohol and Drug Use
3. Suicide and Murder
4. Children Living in Poverty
5. Unhoused Population

By no means has this section identified all of Arizona's vulnerable populations and social issues. For instance, specific physical diseases are only slightly indicated, although SHPEV staff will undoubtedly work and engage with clients and members of the community during our work. The health of our clients’ bodies have been comprised, so we will no doubt have to address clients suffering from various diseases. The clients SHPEV will interface fall under these five major categories, and their vulnerability is discussed below. We included the hyperlinks and references for the readers to access the data source immediately.

  These include individuals who experience greater risk factors for poor health outcomes due to their racial (physical characters or heritage) or ethnic status or sexual preferences. Also vulnerable are children, the elderly, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, under-insured individuals, or those with certain medical conditions (research.arizona.edu › tags › vulnerable-...and High Risk, Underserved, and Vulnerable Populations). The three top key findings that shorten the life of Americans are drug overdoses, suicide, and heart disease (which is the top cause of death in the United States). In Arizona, death from COVID is third, liver is nineth, and suicide is tenth (homicide fell outside of the ten top causes of death in Arizona).

   Arizona has a high number of alcohol-related deaths compared to its population. The rate of chronic causes is well above average. 

In 2020, there were an estimated 91,799 drug overdose deaths in the United States. The age-

adjusted rate of overdose deaths increased by 31% from 2019 (21.6 per 100,000) to 2020 (28.3

per 100,000). Age-adjusting the rates ensures that differences in deaths from one year to the next are not due to differences in the age distribution of the populations being compared.

Opioids, mainly synthetic opioids (other than methadone), are currently the largest driver of

drug overdose deaths (82.3% of all drug overdose deaths). Opioids were involved in 68,630 overdose deaths in 2020 (74.8% of all drug overdose deaths). 

https://www.azdhs.gov/opioid/documents/opioid-surveillance-report-2020-2021.pdf  

¨ Arizona averages one (1) death from excessive alcohol use for every 1,949 people aged 18 and older or 6.62 deaths for every 10,000 adults.

¨ 68.3% of people who die from excessive alcohol use in Arizona are male.

Arizona is ranked number nine with the worst child poverty based on 27 key indicators of neediness. It is ranked ninth as having the most children living in poverty, according to Wallethub's comprehensive analysis..

  This vulnerability is acute among rural Native American and Hispanic populations. And it is exacerbated by these populations living under impoverished conditions, having limited access to vital and emergency resources, and often living with physical challenges, such as disabilities and chronic diseases, all of which are disproportionately prevalent among non-White rural populations (Arizona's Vulnerable Populations).

“Suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000–2021. Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes (related data from a CDC report is at the end of this section). The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicides.

  December 31, 2022 · The Homeless population has steadily risen in Arizona since 2017, with Unsheltered homelessness increasing by 62% since 2012—housing insecurity.  

As of January 2022, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Arizona was 13,553, an increase of nearly 25% since 2020. The Homeless population has steadily risen in Arizona since 2017, with Unsheltered homelessness increasing by 62% since 2012.