Skip to main content

Fatal Drug Overdoses Quadrupled From 1999 to 2020

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2023 -- Drug overdose deaths increased 4.3-fold in the United States from 1999 to 2020, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in the American Journal of Medicine.

Tarek Ghaddar, M.P.H., from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and colleagues used the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research and Multiple Cause of Death files to explore trends in U.S. drug overdose mortality overall and by age, gender, race, urbanization, and geography (1999 to 2020).

The researchers found that during the study period, drug overdoses caused 1.01 million deaths and a 4.3-fold increase in mortality rate ratios. Rates varied by gender (4.5 for men and 4.0 for women), race (4.6 for White, 3.9 for Black or African American, 4.0 for Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 5.1 for Native Americans or Alaskan Natives), age (5.6 in 25- to 34-year-olds, 1.1 in 75- to 84-year-olds, and 0.77 in those aged 85 years and older), geography (highest was 6.0 in Midwest and lowest was 2.6 in West), and urbanization (highest was 6.2 in nonmetro areas and lowest was 3.7 in metro areas).

"To reduce risks of overdose, addiction care should be integrated into the practice of all health care providers regardless of specialty, and training in this area should be further incorporated into medical education," coauthor Allison Ferris, M.D., also from Florida Atlantic University, said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted September 2023

Read this next

Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Affects Child's Metabolic Health

FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is associated with adverse metabolic health in children, according to a study published online...

Nonwhite Adults With Cognitive Impairment More Likely to Live in Polluted Areas

TUESDAY, May 21, 2024 -- Nonwhite adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are more likely to live in areas with higher pollution, according to a study published online May 14...

Slight Decline Seen in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths

THURSDAY, May 16, 2024 -- New 2023 provisional data from the National Center for Health Statistics show the first decline in deaths from drug overdose in the United States since...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.