Opioid-involved overdose deaths increased from 2016 to 2017. This was mainly due to synthetic opioids as prescription opioid and heroin-related deaths remained consistent during this same time period. The death rate for synthetic opioid-involved overdoses increased 45%.

Deaths involving synthetic opioids, chiefly illicitly manufactured fentanyl, have been a larger problem in eastern states in the past. However, recent reports have seen increases in states west of the Mississippi River including Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

The report goes into further detail breaking down statistics by opioid type and then by sex, age, race, county urbanization level, and state in several detailed tables. In 2017, opioid-related drug overdose deaths were more likely to occur in men than women (rate of 20.4 vs. 9.4). The age groups of 25-34 (29.1), 35-44 (27.3), and 45-54 (24.1) had the highest rates of opioid-related deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are supplying funds to support the collection of overdose data, availability of prevention activities, and better surveillance and response capabilities using evidence-based practices at the community level.

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Citation:

Scholl, L., Seth, P., Kariisa, M., Wilson, N., and Baldwin, G. (2018). Drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths – United States, 2013-2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm675152e1.htm?s_cid=mm675152e1_e

 

Contact Information for the Authors:

Lawrence Scholl, e-mail: [email protected]; 404-498-1489

Puja Seth, e-mail: [email protected]; 404-639-6334