May 18, 2023 – The increase in drug overdose deaths within the United States throughout the first two years of the pandemic appears to have stabilized, in line with newly released figures from the CDC.
According to the figures, an estimated 109,680 people died from overdoses in 2022, up 2% from the 107,573 deaths in 2021. However, the entire for 2022 is a record for the third yr in a row.
Health officials at the moment are in a hopeful position. If 2022 data represents a peak, the country will see deaths decline to pre-pandemic levels. If overdose deaths have as an alternative plateaued, it means the U.S. will maintain the nearly 20% increase that occurred amid a deadly surge in drug use in 2020 and 2021.
“The fact that the situation appears to be leveling off, at least nationally, is encouraging,” said epidemiologist Katherine Keyes, PhD, MPH, of Columbia University. The Associated Press“But these numbers are still exceptionally high. We should not claim that the crisis is in any way over.”
The newly published figures from CDC are considered estimates, as some states may send updated information for 2022 later this yr.
Although the variety of deaths remained stable nationally between 2021 and 2022, the image was very different on the state level. More than half of U.S. states saw a rise, while 23 states saw a decrease. And just one state – Iowa – saw the identical variety of overdose deaths in 2021 and 2022.
The states with the best numbers in 2022 were:
- California: 11,978 deaths
- Florida: 8,032 deaths
- Texas: 5,607 deaths
- Pennsylvania: 5,222 deaths
- Ohio: 5,103 deaths
Synthetic opioids resembling fentanyl and tramadol are answerable for most drug overdose deaths, in line with a December 2022 study. report from the CDC.
State officials told AP that they consider the stagnation in overdose deaths is due partially to education campaigns warning the general public concerning the dangers of drug use, in addition to expanded addiction treatment and improved access to the overdose treatment drug naloxone.