From 2015 to 2024, there were 1,423,234 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County (LAC) that listed any alcohol or other drug abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning as a diagnosis (AOD-related). AOD-related hospitalizations increased 18% from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total number of AOD-related hospitalizations was 156,377 cases (Figure 1).
From 2015-2024, a total of 236,914 cases, or 17% of AOD-related hospitalizations, listed AOD abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning as the principal diagnosis (primary). Primary AOD hospitalizations increased 13% from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total number of primary AOD hospitalizations was 24,687 cases (Figure 2).
Any Mention
In 2015-2024, adults aged 45-64 (36%) accounted for the largest proportion of AOD-related hospitalizations, followed by those aged 65+ (24%), aged 35-44 (14%), aged 26-34 (13%), and aged 18-25 (8%) (Figure 3). AOD-related hospitalizations increased by 13% among adults aged 45-64, and increased by 20% among older adults aged 65+ from 2020 to 2024 (Figure 4).
Primary
In 2015-2024, adults aged 45-64 (39%) accounted for the largest proportion of primary AOD hospitalizations, followed by those aged 35-44 (19%), aged 26-34 (17%), and aged 65+ (14%) (Figure 5). From 2005-2022, adults aged 45-64 had by far the most annual primary AOD hospitalizations of all age groups over the past decade. From 2015 to 2024, while primary AOD hospitalizations decreased 34% among young adults aged 18-25, primary AOD hospitalizations increased 49% among adults 26-34 and increased 47% among adults 35-44 (Figure 6).
Any Mention
Males accounted for the majority (61%) of AOD-related hospitalizations from 2015-2024 (Figure 7). The gender disparity remained stable over the past decade (Figure 8).
Primary
Among primary AOD hospitalizations, males accounted for two-thirds (67%) from 2015-2024. The gender disparity increased over the past decade, with males accounting for 64% of primary AOD hospitalizations in 2015 to 69% in 2024 (Figures 9-10).
Any Mention
From 2019-2024 in LAC, Hispanic/Latinos (40%) accounted for the largest proportions of AOD-related hospitalizations, followed by Whites (31%), and Blacks (16%). Hispanic/Latinos and Whites trended in opposite directions over the past decade, in which the proportion of AOD-related hospitalizations for Hispanic/Latinos increased from 34% in 2015 to 42% in 2024, while the proportion for Whites decreased from 38% to 28% (Figures 11-12).
Primary
The opposing trends were similarly observed and more pronounced for primary AOD hospitalizations, with the proportion of primary AOD hospitalizations for Hispanic/Latinos increasing from 36% to 48% in 2024, while that for Whites decreased from 46% to 30% from 2015 to 2024 (Figures 13-14).
In LAC from 2015-2024, patients hospitalized for AOD-related conditions stayed in the hospital for a total of 9.2 million hospital days, of which 1.2 million hospital days were for a primary AOD condition. In 2024, the average length of stay was 6.4 days for AOD-related hospitalizations, and was 5.2 days for primary AOD hospitalizations.
From 2015-2024, the average hospital charge for AOD-related conditions was $112,607, while the average hospital charge for primary AOD conditions was $67,608. Each primary AOD hospitalization in LAC increased from $51,878 in 2015 to $77,279 in 2024.
Total spending for all AOD-related hospitalizations increased from $9.9 billion in 2015 to $18.5 billion 2024. For primary AOD hospitalizations, total spending increased from $1.2 billion in 2015 to $1.9 billion in 2024 (Figure 15).
Notes: Hospitalizations for less than 1 day were counted as having a length of stay of 1 day. All costs are adjusted for inflation to 2024 US dollars.
Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), 2015-2024. Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data 2015-2024. California Department of Public Health.