2022 to 2023 Saw Decrease in Rate of Drug Overdose Deaths in United States
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2025 -- From 2022 to 2023, there was a decrease in the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose death in the United States, according to a report published in the February Health E-Stats, a publication of the National Center for Health Statistics.
Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H., and Arialdi M. Miniño, M.P.H., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, describe changes in drug overdose mortality by selected drug type and state from 2022 to 2023.
The researchers found that from 2022 to 2023 the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States decreased 4.0 percent (32.6 to 31.3 deaths per 100,000 standard population). West Virginia and the District of Columbia were the jurisdictions with the highest rates in 2023 (81.9 and 60.7, respectively), while Nebraska and South Dakota were the states with the lowest rates (9.0 and 11.2, respectively). Age-adjusted rates of drug overdose deaths decreased in 20 states, did not change significantly in 25 states, and increased in six states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington). Nationally, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths decreased between 2022 and 2023 for deaths involving any opioid and synthetic opioids other than methadone, including fentanyl, and increased for deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential and cocaine.
"Changes in rates varied by jurisdiction across drug type," the authors write. "Rates for deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone decreased in 17 states and increased in 11 states."
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.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2025
Read this next
Half of Youth-Serving Clinicians Screen for Substance Use Disorder at Every Well Visit
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Just over half of youth-serving clinicians report that they routinely screen adolescents for substance use disorders (SUDs) at every well visit...
Previous Estimates of Illicit Opioid Use in the United States Underreported
WEDNESDAY, May 14, 2025 -- Illicit opioid use may be higher than previously reported in the United States, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Health...
Rates of Fentanyl Nonfatal Overdose ED Visits Rose Through Third Quarter of 2023
WEDNESDAY, May 14, 2025 -- From 2020 to 2023, there was an increase in the rates of fentanyl-involved nonfatal overdose emergency department visits, according to research...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.