Status: Getting worse
Most Recent Data:
32.6
drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population
(2022) *
Target:
20.7
per 100,000 *
Desired Direction:
Decrease desired
Baseline:
20.7 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population occurred in 2018 *
* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.
Drug overdose is a leading cause of injury deaths across the United States — but some populations, like certain racial/ethnic groups, are disproportionately affected. Implementing an evidence-based, culturally responsive, multisectoral approach is critical to reducing disparities in overdose death rates.
Disparities in drug overdose death rates by race and ethnicity: Highest/lowest rate * ‡
Disparities in drug overdose death rates by race and ethnicity: All groups * ‡
In 2020, non-Hispanic Asian people had the lowest group rate of drug overdose deaths (4.6 per 100,000 population).
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people (13.7 per 100,000 population) was 3 times the lowest group rate.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among Hispanic or Latino people (17.6 per 100,000 population) was more than 3.5 times the lowest group rate.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic multiracial people (18.8 per 100,000 population) was more than 4 times the lowest group rate.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic White people (33.1 per 100,000 population) was more than 7 times the lowest group rate.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Black or African American people (35.8 per 100,000 population) was more than 7.5 times the lowest group rate.
- The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people (42.5 per 100,000 population) was more than 9 times the lowest group rate.