According to information from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2022 saw a record number of drug-related deaths (107,941) in the country. This is an increase of 1.2% from the previous year (106,699), more than 2 times increase from 2015 (52,404) and more than 6 times from the turn of the century (17,415 in 2000).

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving drugs commonly associated with fatal overdose.

Over 2/3 of those who died in 2022 were males, with the increase from the 2015 level greater for males (2.3 times) than for females (1.7 times).

U.S. Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths,
Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999 – 202
2

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

In 2022, to the greatest extent, the deaths were related to the use of opioids (81,806), and the increase compared to 2015 (33,091) was 2.5 times. Over 71% of those who died were males, with the increase from 2015 being greater for males (2.7 times) than for females (2.1%).

90.3% (or 73,838) of all opioid deaths were overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl).

U.S. Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid,
Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999 – 202
2

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

About 18% (or 14,716) of all opioid deaths were overdose deaths involving prescription opioids (methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine). The opioid epidemic in the United States at the turn of the century is thought to have started precisely with the widespread use of prescription opioids. In recent years, overdose deaths involving them have maintained stable levels, increasing by only 9.3% for the period 2015-2021. In 2022, they even decrease compared to 2021 by 11.9%.

There is a downward trend in overdose deaths involving heroin, by more than 62% from 2017 to 2022. In the last year, only 7.2% (or 5,871) of opioid overdoses were due to heroin use.

After opioids, the largest number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. were related to stimulant use (53.3%, or 57,497). Of this group of drugs, psychostimulants caused the most deaths (34,022). This mainly includes methamphetamine use, with the increase in deaths for the period 2015-2022 being 6.0 times. Again, it applies to a greater extent in males (6.2 times) than in females (5.4 times).

One in four U.S. drug overdose deaths (27,569) in 2022 involved cocaine use.

U.S. Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths,
Number Among All Ages, by Type of Drug, 1999 – 202
2

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The least number of drug-involved overdose deaths in the U.S. were related to the use of benzodiazepines (10,964) and antidepressants (5,863) – respectively, the increase in deaths for the period 2015 – 2022 was 24.7% and 19.8%.

The huge increase in drug-involved overdose deaths in the United States in recent years is of considerable concern and suggests a decisive response to the problem, including an update of the U.S. drug policy.

Overdose data 1999-2022.xlsx

Source: https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

Photo: Bridge of Hope