US Drug Overdose Deaths Reach New Record High: CDC

America’s devastating drug crisis has reached another height, according to official data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that an estimated 111,355 Americans died from a drug overdose between May 2022 and April 2023. This surpasses the previous record set during the 12 month period ending March 2023, of 111,164.

In this period, there were 84,605 deaths from opioids and 77,415 deaths from synthetic opioids (excluding methadone). This means that 76% of all overdose deaths were from opioids, and almost 70% of all overdose deaths were from synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. 

Fentanyl has played a large part in the opioid epidemic. The highly potent synthetic opioid — developed to be used for surgery recovery, cancer patients and in end of life care — has contaminated America’s illicit drug supply. Many people who die from the drug do not even know they are taking it, instead assuming the drug they are taking is cocaine, MDMA, percocet or others.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles recently found that deaths from fentanyl contamination in other illicit substances have jumped 150-fold since 2010, with more than 30,000 recorded in 2021.

The CDC has also found that counterfeit pills, some also containing fentanyl, have been responsible for thousands of deaths. A poll from KFF found that almost one in 10 Americans has lost a family member they knew due to a drug overdose. 

Recently, the anti-overdose medication Narcan, also known as Naloxone, was made available to purchase over-the-counter. By spraying it into the nostril of someone experiencing an overdose, it can halt the deadly process, giving that person time to get to a hospital. Anyone can use Narcan, regardless of medical training. 

A vaccine for fentanyl may also be coming; researchers from the University of Montana are hoping to begin human trials next year. 

South Dakota saw the biggest decrease in overdose deaths by about 13%. Washington state saw the biggest increase in overdose deaths by about 34%. 

The smallest positive and negative changes were in Idaho and Michigan. Idaho saw a decrease in overdose deaths by 0.26%, and Michigan saw an increase in overdose deaths by 0.2%.