Drug overdose deaths have quadrupled since 2002, new information finds
Every year, drug overdoses tragically take the lives of 1000’s of Individuals. And since 2002, the speed of deaths from a drug overdose has quadrupled, largely fueled by the extremely deadly fentanyl, new information exhibits.
Fentanyl has more and more contaminated the unlawful provide of cocaine in the US as a result of the medication are made and saved collectively, specialists say.
In 2022 alone, almost 108,000 Individuals died from a drug overdose, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
That very same 12 months, the third main reason for loss of life within the U.S. was “unintentional accidents,” which incorporates drug overdoses. Coronary heart illness and most cancers have constantly been the main reason for loss of life within the U.S. for the reason that early-to-mid Nineties.
How many individuals are dying from drug use?
In 2022, 107,941 folks died of drug overdoses, or 32.6 deaths per 100,000 folks, in keeping with the CDC. The entire variety of deaths is a slight enhance from 2021 (106,699 deaths).
The speed of drug overdose deaths for males elevated barely between 2021 and 2022, 45.1 to 45.6 per 100,000. That very same price for girls dropped 1.0% from 19.6 to 19.4 deaths per 100,000.
A examine from 2023 discovered that males are dying at increased charges not simply from opioids however from methamphetamine and cocaine. As beforehand reported by USA TODAY, researchers mentioned they discovered a “common” and “huge” sample throughout all 50 states and Washington, D.C., displaying males had been not less than two instances extra prone to die from utilizing medication in contrast with girls.
Alex Kral, an epidemiologist with North Carolina’s Analysis Triangle Institute who focuses on drug use, beforehand instructed USA TODAY that basically, males are extra doubtless than girls to make use of medication within the first place, so they’re extra prone to die from overdoses.
The opioid epidemic’s lethal toll
The speed of drug overdose deaths involving artificial opioids apart from methadone, which incorporates fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and tramadol, spiked from 2013 onward. The speed elevated from one loss of life per 100,000 inhabitants to 22.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Tens of millions of Individuals know somebody who died from a drug overdose
A survey printed earlier this 12 months by the nonprofit assume tank Rand Company discovered that greater than 40% of American adults know somebody who died from an overdose and near a 3rd say that loss of life disrupted their lives.
The examine used census figures to extrapolate, and decided overdose deaths would have a ripple impact on about 125 million adults within the U.S. who skilled loss from overdose loss of life of their orbit, USA TODAY beforehand reported.
For sources or help with substance use dysfunction, you possibly can go to the SAMHSA.gov web site or name 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Partnership to Finish Habit’s SAFE Locator may help determine numerous therapy choices throughout ages.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Claire Thornton
