A new study parsing death statistics in England and Wales holds disturbing findings for lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men in those countries.

The analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the U.K., which cross-referenced 2021 census data with death registrations between March 2021 and November 2024, found that suicide and drug and alcohol overdoses are among the most significant causes of death for adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other sexual orientations.  

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There were nearly three times as many “drug poisoning” deaths among that population (referred to as LGB+) compared with the “straight or heterosexual” group, while alcohol-related deaths were almost twice as high, the study revealed.

Among 13,740 alcohol-specific deaths in the study period (0.05% of the study total), the risk of alcohol-specific death was 1.8 times higher in those identifying as an LGB+ orientation, compared with those identifying as straight or heterosexual.

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Men had a higher rate of alcohol-specific death than women overall. Men identifying as LGB+ had a 1.5 times higher risk compared with their straight or heterosexual counterparts. The risk was greater for men, with a 1.8 times higher risk of alcohol-specific death in those identifying as LGB+.   

For drug deaths, the differential between straight and LGB+ populations was even higher. The risk of death related to drug poisoning was 2.8 times higher in those identifying as LGB+, compared with their straight or heterosexual counterparts during the study period. 

But the risk of drug deaths flipped between LGB+ men and women compared to alcohol deaths: There was a 3.5 times higher risk of death due to drug poisoning for females identifying as LGB+, while males experienced a 2.4 times higher risk compared with their straight peers.

Risk of death from any cause during the study period was estimated to be 1.3 times greater overall for people identifying with an LGB+ orientation, compared to their straight counterparts. 

Leading causes of death for LGB+ people were ischaemic diseases involving an inadequate blood supply to the heart (11.9 %), intentional self-harm and events of undetermined intent (7.1%), cancerous tumors of the trachea, bronchus, and lung (5.4%), cirrhosis and other diseases of the liver (5.3%), and accidental poisoning (4.5%).

Among the straight population, the top five causes did not include self-harm or events of undetermined intent, but did find an overlap with heart and respiratory disease.

Death by suicide was the leading cause of death for both the LGB+ population and their heterosexual counterparts in the younger age groups, the study found, but the proportions were markedly higher in those identifying as LGB+: 45.3% of those aged 16 to 24 years identifying as LGB+, compared with 26.6% identifying as straight or heterosexual; 29.6% of those aged 25 to 34 years identifying as LGB+, compared with 18.4% identifying as straight or heterosexual; and 14.3% of those aged 35 to 44 years identifying as LGB+, compared with 9.8% identifying as straight or heterosexual.

“This is the first time we have looked at differences in causes of death among adults by sexual orientation,” one of the study authors, Dr. Emma Sharland, said with release of the analysis.

“There are some noticeable differences, with nearly three times as many drug poisoning deaths and close to twice as many alcohol-related deaths among the LGB+ group compared with the straight or heterosexual group,” she added.

“While this analysis does not explore causality, we hope this data will help inform health professionals and others working with different population groups,” Sharland said.

The findings are cause for concern, said Mark Winstanley, chief executive of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, to The Guardian.

“It is deeply concerning that the data shows suicide is the second leading cause of death among LGB+ people. The causes of suicide are complex, but we know that LGBTQ+ people face discrimination in many areas of their lives and encounter harassment, from physical attacks to online hatred,” he continued.

“Today’s data reinforces the urgent need to address the risk factors that LGBTQ+ people face, as well as ensuring that mental health services are available and accessible for this group,” he said.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth via chat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.

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