From 2005 to 2022, there were 1,940,137 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 83% from 2005 to 2016, then decreased 9% through 2022. In 2022, the annual total number of AOD-related hospitalizations was 129,449 cases (Figure 1).
From 2005-2022, a total of 387,615 cases, or 20% of AOD-related hospitalizations, listed AOD abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning as the principal diagnosis (primary). Primary AOD hospitalizations remained relatively consistent over the past two decades. In 2022, the annual total number of primary AOD hospitalizations was 21,012 cases (Figure 2).
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In 2005-2022, adults aged 45-64 (40%) accounted for the largest proportion of AOD-related hospitalizations, followed by those aged 65+ (19%), aged 34-44 (16%), and aged 26-34 (13%) (Figure 3). AOD-related hospitalizations among adults aged 45-64 increased 73% from 2005 to 2016, then decreased 20% through 2022. AOD-related hospitalizations among older adults aged 65+ increased 236% from 2005 to 2016, and plateaued through 2022 (Figure 4).
Primary
In 2005-2022, adults aged 45-64 (41%) accounted for the largest proportion of primary AOD hospitalizations, followed by those aged 35-44 (20%), and aged 26-34 (15%) (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 two decades, though the number decreased 20.0% from 2016 to 2022. From 2012 to 2022, while primary AOD hospitalizations decreased 40% among young adults aged 18-25, primary AOD hospitalizations increased 36% among adults 26-34 and increased 22% among adults 35-44 (Figure 6).
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Males accounted for nearly two-thirds (63.8%) of AOD-related hospitalizations from 2005-2022 (Figure 7). The gender disparity has been gradually decreasing, with males accounting for 67% of AOD-related hospitalizations in 2005, to 61% in 2022 (Figure 8).
Primary
Among primary AOD hospitalizations, males similarly accounted for nearly two-thirds (65.0%). However, the gender disparity has continued to increase, with males accounting for 63% of primary AOD hospitalizations in 2005 to 70% in 2022 (Figures 9-10).
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From 2005-2022 in LAC, Whites (37%) and Latinxs (36.0%) accounted for the largest proportions of AOD-related hospitalizations, followed by Blacks (19%). Latinxs and Whites trended in opposite directions since 2016, in which the proportion of AOD-related hospitalizations for Latinxs increased from 32% in 2005 to 44% in 2022, while the proportion for Whites decreased from 44% to 32% (Figures 11-12).
Primary
Similar opposing trends were observed for primary AOD hospitalizations, with the declines among Whites starting in 2013, and the increases among Latinxs starting in 2013 (Figures 13-14).
In LAC from 2012-2022, patients hospitalized for a primary AOD condition stayed in the hospital for a total of 8.4 million hospital days. In 2022, the average length of stay for primary AOD hospitalizations was 6.3 days.
The average hospital charge for each primary AOD hospitalization in LAC increased from $40,804 in 2012 to $65,868 in 2022.
Total spending for all primary AOD hospitalizations increased from $879 million in 2012 to $1.5 trillion in 2021, then decreased to $1.4 trillion in 2022 (Figure 15).
Note: Hospitalizations for less than 1 day were counted as having a length of stay of 1 day. All costs are adjusted for inflation to 2022 US dollars.
Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI, formerly OSHPD), 2005-2022. Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data 2005-2022. California Department of Public Health.