One word may hardly seem consequential, but it is.
The systemic exclusion of boys and men’s issues from public policy conversations around equity, equality, and human rights is one of the reasons it is so important the legislature creates a commission on boys and men. Government, academia, and news media need the help of an official body, such as the proposed commission, that will urge them to pay due attention to issues where males in particular are struggling.
This blog post highlights a recent development in the conduct of the State of Washington that, on its face, does not seem remarkable. However, it is an example of serious progress — and perhaps an indicator of positive things to come from our government agencies. It is a change that may be attributable to our December 12, 2021 article “Department of Health Neglects Gender Gap in Drug Overdose Deaths” and our subsequent outreach to multiple DOH employees.
4 publications, 0 acknowledgments of sex-based disparity
Between 2017 and 2021, the Washington State Department of Health issued a total of four press releases on the topic of drug overdose deaths. (They particularly focused on increases in fentanyl overdoses.)
| May 10, 2017 | Investigation: Deaths from fentanyl and related drugs rose to 70 in 2016 |
| Dec 5, 2018 | Fentanyl deaths increasing in WA; tests find it in more powders and pills |
| Feb 19, 2021 | Overdose deaths show alarming trend in 2020; fentanyl partly to blame |
| July 20, 2021 | Overdose rates on pace to break another record in 2021 |
The two most recent press releases called attention to certain demographic subgroups disproportionately suffering from drug overdose deaths. For example, DOH’s press release on July 20, 2021 said:
“Overdoses are occurring across all age ranges, races and ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds….The increase in overdose deaths was highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanic/Latinx, Black people and other groups already dealing with inequitable health outcomes. One concerning trend seems to be in the prevalence of young adult mortality; of the fentanyl-related deaths, 55 were under 30 years of age.”
In other words, the Department of Health called attention to subgroups of people based on age and race/ethnicity. However, none of the press releases mentioned what is statistically the most significant group-based inequality: that males are 115% more likely than females to die by drug overdose in Washington. Last year 1,549 males died compared to 714 females (source: DOH IVP/S&E Team).
Game changer: the word “male”
In contrast to the Department of Health’s press releases from 2017 to 2021, their press release on April 12, 2022 acknowledges the sex-based disparity in the number of people dying by drug overdose, under the headline “Overdose deaths in Washington top 2,000 in 2021 and continue to rise“.
“A majority of people dying from overdose tend to be male and 45 years old or younger…”
– Washington State Department of Health, 4/12/2022
The Department of Health is now using the word “male” in their press releases about drug overdoses.
A sign of positive change?
It may seem bizarre that this is noteworthy. But it is. It could be a one-off. But we don’t think so. It may be an indicator of more positive changes to come. Maybe the Department of Health and other government agencies will more often acknowledge when males make up a disproportionate number of victims of a given problem (e.g. suicides, homelessness, violent crimes, failing to complete high school, failing to read at grade-level, etc.). Then policymakers, researchers, and journalists will be able to more easily identify when equity, equality, and human rights efforts should involve lifting up boys and men.