Drug Overdose Death Rates: Opioid and Stimulant Epidemics

Drug overdose deaths have surged in recent years, and it has become a major public health crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2019 alone, which is a significant increase from previous years.

Published On

December 11, 2023

Dove Recovery's Team

Drug Overdose Death Rates: Opioid and Stimulant Epidemics

Top 10 Key Drug Overdose Statistics

In 2019, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Opioid overdose deaths accounted for nearly 50,000 of those deaths in 2019.
Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are responsible for a significant portion of opioid overdose deaths.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the drug overdose crisis by increasing social isolation and economic hardship among vulnerable populations.
Overdose death rates involving stimulants such as methamphetamine also increased significantly in recent years.
The majority of drug overdose deaths involve multiple drugs, including opioids and other substances such as benzodiazepines or cocaine.
Access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders remains limited in many areas of the country.
Harm reduction strategies such as naloxone distribution and syringe exchange programs have been shown to be effective in reducing overdose deaths.
Structural issues such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and systemic racism contribute to the drug overdose crisis disproportionately affecting certain communities.
Comprehensive approaches that address both supply-side and demand-side factors are necessary to effectively address the drug overdose crisis.

What Are The Common Drugs Responsible For Overdose Deaths?

In the United States, drug overdose deaths are a major public health concern. Opioids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, and methadone are the top five drugs responsible for overdose deaths.

Opioids

Opioids are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths, accounting for almost 50,000 deaths in 2019 alone. These drugs include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl in particular has been responsible for a growing number of overdose deaths in recent years, due to its high potency and presence in counterfeit pills.

Cocaine

Cocaine is responsible for more than 14,000 deaths annually. This drug can cause a range of health problems, including heart attacks, seizures, and respiratory failure. Benzodiazepines and methadone account for over 10,000 deaths each year.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders and sleep problems, but can be highly addictive and dangerous when misused. Methadone is used to treat opioid addiction but can also be abused and cause overdose.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is another drug that has been associated with an increasing number of overdose deaths in recent years. This drug is highly addictive and can cause a range of health problems, including cardiovascular damage, stroke, and psychosis.

Understanding the impact of these drugs on public health is crucial to addressing the overdose epidemic and developing effective prevention strategies. This includes increasing access to evidence-based treatment options for addiction, improving harm reduction strategies like naloxone distribution programs, and addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to drug addiction.

National Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths—Number Among All Ages

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there were 81,230 drug-involved overdose deaths in the United States in the 12-month period ending in May 2020. This represents a significant increase from previous years and highlights the urgent need for action to address this public health crisis.

Aged 15-24

Among individuals aged 15-24, there were 7,621 drug overdose deaths in 2020.

Aged 25-44

There were 40,534 drug overdose deaths in 2020, accounting for almost half of all drug overdose deaths. The majority of these deaths were attributed to opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, but other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine also played a role.

Aged 45-64

There were 25,544 drug overdose deaths among individuals aged 45-64, and 4,606 among those aged 65 and older.

These statistics highlight the severity of the drug overdose crisis across different age groups in the United States. To address this crisis, it is crucial to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use and provide access to evidence-based treatment options for those struggling with addiction. This includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines medication with behavioral therapy to help individuals manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

National Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid

National Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid have been steadily increasing over the years. According to the CDC, there were 49,860 opioid overdose deaths in 2019 alone. The majority of these deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which is a potent and highly addictive drug that has significantly contributed to the rise in overdose deaths.

The opioid epidemic has affected all regions of the United States, with some states experiencing higher rates of overdose deaths than others. West Virginia, for example, has consistently had one of the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths in the country.

To combat this crisis, it is crucial to implement evidence-based strategies such as improving access to addiction treatment services and expanding the availability of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Additionally, efforts should be made to reduce the supply of illicit opioids and increase public awareness about the dangers of opioid use.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic has led to a significant increase in drug overdose deaths. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. These drugs activate the brain's reward system, producing feelings of pleasure and pain relief. However, opioids can also cause respiratory depression, which can lead to death.

The opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s and early 2000s when pharmaceutical companies began aggressively marketing prescription opioids to doctors. They claimed that these drugs were safe and effective for managing chronic pain, leading many doctors to prescribe them without realizing the potential for addiction and overdose. As a result, many people became addicted to prescription opioids and then transitioned to using illegal opioids like heroin when their prescriptions ran out.

Since then, the opioid epidemic has continued to worsen. In 2017 alone, there were over 47,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. This crisis has disproportionately affected rural areas, where access to healthcare and addiction treatment is often limited. Examples of states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic include West Virginia and Ohio.

To combat this epidemic, there have been efforts to increase access to addiction treatment and prescription drug monitoring programs. Additionally, some states have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for their role in fueling the epidemic. While progress has been made in reducing opioid prescriptions and overdose deaths in some areas, the opioid epidemic continues to be a major public health crisis.

What is Being Done to Address the Opioid Epidemic?

The opioid epidemic has prompted a number of initiatives aimed at reducing drug overdose deaths. These include:

Increasing access to substance abuse treatment

Many states have expanded access to substance abuse treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, which combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapy.

Reducing the supply of prescription opioids

The federal government and some states have implemented policies aimed at reducing the number of prescription opioids being prescribed.

Increasing access to naloxone

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Many states have made naloxone more widely available, including to first responders and family members of people who are at risk of overdose.

Increasing public awareness

Many organizations are working to raise public awareness about the dangers of opioids and the importance of safe disposal of unused medications.

Death Rates Involving Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug that has contributed significantly to the drug overdose crisis in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), heroin-related overdose deaths have increased dramatically since 2010, with a total of 14,019 deaths reported in 2019 alone.

Sample statistics on heroin use and overdose deaths include:

In 2019, there were a total of 70,630 drug overdose deaths in the United States.
Of these deaths, heroin was involved in 14,019 cases (20%).
The rate of heroin-related overdose deaths is highest among adults aged 25-34.
The states with the highest rates of heroin-related overdose deaths are West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for action to address the heroin epidemic and provide support for individuals struggling with addiction.

Heroin use can have a range of negative health outcomes, including:

Increased risk of overdose

Heroin is a powerful drug that can depress the respiratory system and lead to death by overdose, particularly when used with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines.

Infectious diseases

Injection drug use can increase the risk of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C, which can be spread through shared needles.

Mental health problems

Heroin use has been linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.

Efforts to address the heroin epidemic have included increasing access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs such as methadone and buprenorphine. MAT combines medication with behavioral therapy to help individuals manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for heroin. Harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange programs and safe injection sites have also been implemented in some areas to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and prevent overdose deaths.

Death Rates Involving Stimulants

Stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine have become an increasingly significant contributor to the drug overdose crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 16,167 drug overdose deaths involving stimulants in 2019. This represents a significant increase from previous years and highlights the need for urgent action to address this growing public health crisis.

By taking a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of this crisis, we can work towards reducing overdose deaths and improving public health outcomes for individuals and communities across the country. For example:

In 2019, 13% of all drug overdose deaths involved cocaine, while 9% involved psychostimulants such as methamphetamine.
The number of overdose deaths involving cocaine has been steadily increasing since 2012, with a sharp increase in recent years.
Methamphetamine-related deaths have also been on the rise, particularly in western states like California and Arizona.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for action to address the growing stimulant epidemic and provide support for individuals struggling with addiction.

Stimulant use can have a range of negative health outcomes, including:

Cardiovascular problems

Stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular problems.

Seizures

Stimulants can cause seizures, particularly in individuals who have a history of seizures or epilepsy.

Mental health issues

Stimulant use has been linked to a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis.

In addition to these health risks, stimulant use can also be highly addictive and lead to dangerous behaviors such as driving under the influence or engaging in risky sexual behavior.

To address the rising death rates involving stimulants, it is crucial to increase access to evidence-based treatment options for addiction and raise awareness about the dangers of these drugs. This includes providing education about safe use practices and implementing harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange programs. In addition, efforts should be made to address the root causes of stimulant addiction, including poverty, trauma, and lack of access to healthcare.

Death Rates Involving Cocaine

Cocaine use has become an increasingly significant contributor to the drug overdose crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, 13% of all drug overdose deaths involved cocaine. This represents a significant increase from previous years, with the number of overdose deaths involving cocaine steadily increasing since 2012 and experiencing a sharp increase in recent years.

Sample statistics on cocaine use and overdose deaths include:

In 2019, there were a total of 16,167 drug overdose deaths involving stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.
Among these deaths, 13% involved cocaine while 9% involved psychostimulants like methamphetamine.
The number of overdose deaths involving cocaine has been steadily increasing since 2012, with a sharp increase in recent years.
The rate of cocaine-related overdose deaths is highest among adults aged 35-44, followed by those aged 25-34.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for action to address the growing cocaine epidemic and provide support for individuals struggling with addiction.

Cocaine use can have a range of negative health outcomes, including:

Cardiovascular problems

Cocaine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular problems.

Respiratory problems

Cocaine can cause respiratory distress or failure, leading to death by overdose.

Mental health issues

Cocaine use has been linked to a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

In addition to these health risks, cocaine use can also be highly addictive and lead to dangerous behaviors such as driving under the influence or engaging in risky sexual behavior.

To address the growing cocaine epidemic, it is crucial to increase access to evidence-based treatment options for addiction and raise awareness about the dangers of this drug. This includes providing education about safe use practices and implementing harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange programs. In addition, efforts should be made to address the root causes of cocaine addiction, including poverty, trauma, and lack of access to healthcare.

Conclusion

The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities across the United States. While progress has been made in reducing opioid prescriptions and overdose deaths, there is still much work to be done to address this crisis. Additionally, the rise of stimulant-related overdose deaths highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of drug addiction and overdose.

By increasing access to evidence-based treatment options, implementing harm reduction strategies, and raising public awareness about the dangers of drug use, we can work towards reducing overdose deaths and improving public health outcomes for individuals and communities across the country. It is crucial that we continue to prioritize this issue and take action to address the ongoing drug overdose crisis.