Data on drug overdose death rates, by drug type and selected population characteristics. Please refer to the PDF or Excel version of this table in the HUS 2019 Data Finder (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2019.htm) for critical information about measures, definitions, and changes over time. SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, numerator data from annual public-use Mortality Files; denominator data from U.S. Census Bureau national population estimates; and Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Arias E, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 69 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.2021. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm. For more information on the National Vital Statistics System, see the corresponding Appendix entry at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-appendix-508.pdf.

In 2023, the death rate from opioid overdose was ** per 100,000 population. Opioids are the main driver of overdose deaths in the United States. This statistic presents the death rate from opioid overdose in the U.S. from 1999 to 2023, per 100,000 population.

West Virginia is currently the state with the highest drug overdose death rate in the United States, with 82 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023. Although West Virginia had the highest drug overdose death rate at that time, California was the state where the most people died from drug overdose. In 2023, around ****** people in California died from a drug overdose. The main perpetrator Opioids account for the majority of all drug overdose deaths in the United States. Opioids include illegal drugs such as heroin, legal prescription drugs like oxycodone, and illicitly manufactured synthetic drugs like fentanyl. The abuse of opioids has increased in recent years, leading to an increased number of drug overdose deaths. The death rate from heroin overdose hit an all-time high of *** per 100,000 population in 2016 and 2017, but has decreased in recent years. Now, illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids such as fentanyl account for the majority of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Opioid epidemic The sharp rise in overdose deaths from opioids has led many to declare the United States is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic or opioid crisis. The causes of this epidemic are complicated but involve a combination of a rise in dispensed prescriptions, irresponsible marketing from pharmaceutical companies, a lack of physician-patient communication, increased social acceptance of prescription drugs, and an increased supply of cheap and potent heroin on the streets.

This data presents provisional counts for drug overdose deaths based on a current flow of mortality data in the National Vital Statistics System. Counts for the most recent final annual data are provided for comparison. National provisional counts include deaths occurring within the 50 states and the District of Columbia as of the date specified and may not include all deaths that occurred during a given time period. Provisional counts are often incomplete and causes of death may be pending investigation resulting in an underestimate relative to final counts. To address this, methods were developed to adjust provisional counts for reporting delays by generating a set of predicted provisional counts. Several data quality metrics, including the percent completeness in overall death reporting, percentage of deaths with cause of death pending further investigation, and the percentage of drug overdose deaths with specific drugs or drug classes reported are included to aid in interpretation of provisional data as these measures are related to the accuracy of provisional counts. Reporting of the specific drugs and drug classes involved in drug overdose deaths varies by jurisdiction, and comparisons of death rates involving specific drugs across selected jurisdictions should not be made. Provisional data presented will be updated on a monthly basis as additional records are received. For more information please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm

A. SUMMARY This dataset includes unintentional drug overdose death rates by race/ethnicity by year. This dataset is created using data from the California Electronic Death Registration System (CA-EDRS) via the Vital Records Business Intelligence System (VRBIS). Substance-related deaths are identified by reviewing the cause of death. Deaths caused by opioids, methamphetamine, and cocaine are included. Homicides and suicides are excluded. Ethnic and racial groups with fewer than 10 events are not tallied separately for privacy reasons but are included in the “all races” total. Unintentional drug overdose death rates are calculated by dividing the total number of overdose deaths by race/ethnicity by the total population size for that demographic group and year and then multiplying by 100,000. The total population size is based on estimates from the US Census Bureau County Population Characteristics for San Francisco, 2022 Vintage by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. These data differ from the data shared in the Preliminary Unintentional Drug Overdose Death by Year dataset since this dataset uses finalized counts of overdose deaths associated with cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids only. B. HOW THE DATASET IS CREATED This dataset is created by copying data from the Annual Substance Use Trends in San Francisco report from the San Francisco Department of Public Health Center on Substance Use and Health. C. UPDATE PROCESS This dataset will be updated annually, typically at the end of the year. D. HOW TO USE THIS DATASET N/A E. RELATED DATASETS Overdose-Related 911 Responses by Emergency Medical Services Preliminary Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths San Francisco Department of Public Health Substance Use Services F. CHANGE LOG 12/16/2024 - Updated with 2023 data. Asian/Pacific Islander race/ethnicity group was changed to Asian. 12/16/2024 - Past year totals by race/ethnicity were revised after obtaining accurate race/ethnicity for some decedents that were previously marked as “unknown” race/ethnicity.

In 2023, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate for those aged 45 to 54 years was **** per 100,000 population. Opioids are the main driver of overdose deaths in the United States. This statistic presents the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate in the U.S. from 2013 to 2023, by age, per 100,000 population.

In 2023, around 72,776 people in the United States died from a drug overdose that involved fentanyl. This was the second-highest number of fentanyl overdose deaths ever recorded in the United States, and a significant increase from the number of deaths reported in 2019. Fentanyl overdoses are now the driving force behind the opioid epidemic, accounting for the majority of overdose deaths in the United States. What is fentanyl? Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid similar to morphine, but more powerful. It is a prescription drug but is also manufactured illegally and is sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine, often without the user’s knowledge. The potency of fentanyl makes it very addictive and puts users at a high risk for overdose. Illegally manufactured fentanyl has become more prevalent in the United States in recent years, leading to a huge increase in drug overdose deaths. In 2022, the rate of drug overdose death involving fentanyl was 22.7 per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of just one per 100,000 population in the year 2013. Fentanyl overdoses by gender and race/ethnicity As of 2022, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl in the United States is over two times higher among men than women. Rates of overdose death involving fentanyl were low for both men and women until around the year 2014 when they began to quickly increase, especially for men. In 2022, there were around 19,880 drug overdose deaths among women that involved fentanyl compared to 53,958 such deaths among men. At that time, the rate of fentanyl overdose deaths was highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives and lowest among non-Hispanic Asians. However, from the years 2014 to 2018, non-Hispanic whites had the highest fentanyl overdose death rates.

The interactive charts, created for 33N, displays trends in total, opioid, and prescription opioid overdose death rates for each of the 10 counties in the ARC planning area, the planing areas as a whole, and State of Georgia from 1999 to 2016. In Georgia in 2016, their were 996 overdose deaths caused by opioids, representing 68.8% of all drug overdose deaths in the state and a 61% increase since 2013. Of the overdose deaths statewide in 2016, 595 involved prescription opioids, a more than tenfold increase since 1999. The 10-county Atlanta metro region reports higher prescription opioid overdose rates in most years than the state as a whole, but has followed a similar trend to the state, with the problem of prescription opioid overdose deaths increasing over time. Since 1999 in the 10-county Atlanta metro region, the number of prescription opioid overdose deaths has increased at more than 5 times the rate of deaths overall, at 2.5 times the rate of overdose deaths, and at more than 1.5 times the rate of all opioid overdose deaths.Data Source:Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH), OASIS, Mortality/Morbidity Data, 1999-2016

Data on drug overdose death rates in the United States, by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and drug type. Data are from Health, United States. SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality File. Search, visualize, and download these and other estimates from over 120 health topics with the NCHS Data Query System (DQS), available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/dataquery/index.htm.

This data presents counts of provisional drug overdose deaths by selected drugs and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) public health regions, based on provisional mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. This data is limited to drug overdose deaths with an underlying cause of death assigned to International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code numbers X40-X44 (unintentional), X60-X64 (suicide), X85 (homicide), or Y10-Y14 (undetermined intent). Specific drugs were identified using methods for searching literal text from death certificates. The provisional data are based on a current flow of mortality data and include reported 12 month-ending provisional counts of drug overdose deaths by jurisdiction of occurrence and specified drug. Provisional drug overdose death counts presented on this page are for “12-month ending periods,” defined as the number of deaths occurring in the 12-month period ending in the month indicated. For example, the 12-month ending period in June 2022 would include deaths occurring from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Evaluation of trends over time should compare estimates from year to year (June 2021 and June 2022), rather than month to month, to avoid overlapping time periods. It is important to note that the data represent counts of deaths, and not mortality ratios or rates, which are the standard measure used to compare groups, and therefore should not be used to determine populations at disproportionate risk of drug overdose death.

This data visualization presents county-level provisional counts for drug overdose deaths based on a current flow of mortality data in the National Vital Statistics System. County-level provisional counts include deaths occurring within the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as of the date specified and may not include all deaths that occurred during a given time period. Provisional counts are often incomplete and causes of death may be pending investigation resulting in an underestimate relative to final counts (see Technical Notes).

The provisional data presented on the dashboard below include reported 12 month-ending provisional counts of death due to drug overdose by the decedent’s county of residence and the month in which death occurred.

Percentages of deaths with a cause of death pending further investigation and a note on historical completeness (e.g. if the percent completeness was under 90% after 6 months) are included to aid in interpretation of provisional data as these measures are related to the accuracy of provisional counts (see Technical Notes). Counts between 1-9 are suppressed in accordance with NCHS confidentiality standards. Provisional data presented on this page will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional records are received.

Technical Notes

Nature and Sources of Data

Provisional drug overdose death counts are based on death records received and processed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) as of a specified cutoff date. The cutoff date is generally the first Sunday of each month. National provisional estimates include deaths occurring within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. NCHS receives the death records from the state vital registration offices through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP).

The timeliness of provisional mortality surveillance data in the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) database varies by cause of death and jurisdiction in which the death occurred. The lag time (i.e., the time between when the death occurred and when the data are available for analysis) is longer for drug overdose deaths compared with other causes of death due to the time often needed to investigate these deaths (1). Thus, provisional estimates of drug overdose deaths are reported 6 months after the date of death.

Provisional death counts presented in this data visualization are for “12 month-ending periods,” defined as the number of deaths occurring in the 12 month period ending in the month indicated. For example, the 12 month-ending period in June 2020 would include deaths occurring from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The 12 month-ending period counts include all seasons of the year and are insensitive to reporting variations by seasonality. These provisional counts of drug overdose deaths and related data quality metrics are provided for public health surveillance and monitoring of emerging trends. Provisional drug overdose death data are often incomplete, and the degree of completeness varies by jurisdiction and 12 month-ending period. Consequently, the numbers of drug overdose deaths are underestimated based on provisional data relative to final data and are subject to random variation.

Cause of Death Classification and Definition of Drug Deaths

Mortality statistics are compiled in accordance with the World Health Organizations (WHO) regulations specifying that WHO member nations classify and code causes of death with the current revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). ICD provides the basic guidance used in virtually all countries to code and classify causes of death. It provides not only disease, injury, and poisoning categories but also the rules used to select the single underlying cause of death for tabulation from the several diagnoses that may be reported on a single death certificate, as well as definitions, tabulation lists, the format of the death certificate, and regul

This dataset contains mortality statistics for opioid drugs poisoning in the US at state level starting from 2013 to 2016. The indicators used crude and age-adjusted mortality. At the same time it contains data about the number of deaths and the increase of the number, along with statistical significance (for a probability level of 95%) of increase between the years.

A. SUMMARY This dataset includes data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on the number of preliminary unintentional fatal drug overdoses per month. B. HOW THE DATASET IS CREATED The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner releases a monthly report containing the previous month’s preliminary count of unintentional fatal drug overdoses. This dataset is manually updated based on that report. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) investigates any unknown cause of death for deaths that occur in San Francisco. OCME uses drug testing, death scene investigation, autopsy, medical record, and informant information to determine the cause of death. Preliminary determinations are generally based on drug testing and death scene investigations. Preliminary deaths reported by the medical examiner consist of two categories: (a) cases that are still under investigation and involve suspected acute toxicity from opioids, cocaine, or methamphetamine; and (b) cases that have been finalized and were attributed to acute toxicity from any substance (including prescribed medication and over-the-counter medication). C. UPDATE PROCESS This dataset is updated monthly following the release of the monthly accidental fatal drug overdose report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Department of Public Health staff manually copy data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s report to update this dataset. D. HOW TO USE THIS DATASET This dataset is updated each month to include the most recent month’s preliminary accidental fatal drug overdose count. Counts from previous months are often also updated as it can take more than a month for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to finish reviewing cases. E. RELATED DATASETS San Francisco Department of Public Health Substance Use Services Overdose-Related 911 Responses by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Unintentional Drug Overdose Death Rate by Race/Ethnicity

This dataset tracks the updates made on the dataset "Drug overdose death rates, by drug type, sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin: United States" as a repository for previous versions of the data and metadata.

This dataset tracks the updates made on the dataset "Unintentional Drug Overdose Death Rate by Race/Ethnicity" as a repository for previous versions of the data and metadata.

In 2022, there were around 22.7 overdose deaths in the United States involving fentanyl per 100,000 population. The death rate involving fentanyl presented an exponential increase since 2014. This statistic presents the rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl in the U.S. from 1999 to 2022.

This dataset tracks the updates made on the dataset "DEV DQS Drug overdose death rates, by drug type, sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin: United States from CDC WONDER" as a repository for previous versions of the data and metadata.

This page contains overall overdose death data trends by state

To: State, territorial, tribal, and local policymakers and administrators of agencies and programs focused on child, youth, and family health and well-being

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your work to support children, youth, and families. Populations served by Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-funded programs — including victims of trafficking or violence, those who are unhoused, and young people and families involved in the child welfare system — are often at particularly high risk for substance use and overdose. A variety of efforts are underway at the federal, state, and local levels to reduce overdose deaths. These efforts focus on stopping drugs from entering communities, providing life-saving resources, and preventing drug use before it starts. Initiatives across the country are already saving lives: the overdose death rate has declined over the past year but remains too high at 32.6 per 100,000 individuals.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, raises the risk of overdose deaths because even a tiny amount can be deadly. Young people are particularly at risk for fentanyl exposure, driven in part by widespread availability of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that are marketed to youth through social media. While overdose deaths among teens have recently begun to decline, there were 6,696 deaths among adolescents and young adults in 2022 (the latest year with data available)[1], making unintentional drug overdose the second leading cause of death for youth ages 15—19 and the first leading cause of death among young adults ages 20-24.[2]

Often these deaths happen with others nearby and can be prevented when opioid overdose reversal medications, like naloxone, are administered in time. CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System dashboard shows that in all 30 jurisdictions with available data, 64.7% of drug overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity for intervention.[3] Naloxone rapidly reverses an overdose and should be given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected. It can be given as a nasal spray. Studies show that naloxone administration reduces death rates and does not cause harm if used on a person who is not overdosing on opioids. States have different policies and regulations regarding naloxone distribution and administration. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have Good Samaritan laws protecting bystanders who aid at the scene of an overdose.[4]

ACF grant recipients and partners can play a critical role in reducing overdose deaths by taking the following actions:

Stop Overdose Now

(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Integrating Harm Reduction Strategies into Services and Supports for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (PDF) (ACF)

Thank you for your dedication and partnership. If you have any questions, please contact your local public health department or state behavioral health agency. Together, we can meaningfully reduce overdose deaths in every community.

/s/

Meg Sullivan

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

[1] Products - Data Briefs - Number 491 - March 2024

[2] WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Visualization Tool

[3] SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data | Overdose Prevention | CDC

[4] Based on 2024 report from the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association

(PDF). Note that the state of Kansas adopted protections as well following the publication of this report.

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.