CDC: Drug overdose deaths hit new high

Preliminary CDC data show that drug overdose deaths in the United States hit a record high in the 12-month period ending in March 2021.

According to CDC, there were 96,779 fatal overdoses during that period—a nearly 30% increase from the 74,679 overdose deaths reported in the 12-month period ending in March 2020. In the 12-month period ending this past March, all but 3 states—New Hampshire, South Dakota, and New Jersey—reported increases in overdose deaths. CDC noted the figures are provisional and said the final total could be closer to 99,100 overdose deaths.

Drug overdose categories include heroin; natural opioid analgesics, including morphine and codeine; natural and semisynthetic opioids, including drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone; methadone; synthetic opioid analgesics other than methadone, including drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol; cocaine; and psychostimulants with abuse potential, including methamphetamine.