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Cited by 1,859Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesPoisoning and overdose treatments

Increases in drug and opioid overdose deaths — United States, 2000–2014

Open access
Rudd, Rose A., Aleshire, Noah, Zibbell, Jon E., Gladden, R. Matthew·2016·MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
DOI 10.15585/mmwr.mm6450a3
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Abstract

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose (poisoning) deaths. Since 2000, the rate of deaths from drug overdoses has increased 137%, including a 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (opioid pain relievers and heroin). CDC analyzed recent multiple cause-of-death mortality data to examine current trends and characteristics of drug overdose deaths, including the types of opioids associated with drug overdose deaths. During 2014, a total of 47,055 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, representing a 1-year increase of 6.5%, from 13.8 per 100,000 persons in 2013 to 14.7 per 100,000 persons in 2014. The rate of drug overdose deaths increased significantly for both sexes, persons aged 25-44 years and ≥55 years, non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, and in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States. Rates of opioid overdose deaths also increased significantly, from 7.9 per 100,000 in 2013 to 9.0 per 100,000 in 2014, a 14% increase. Historically, CDC has programmatically characterized all opioid pain reliever deaths (natural and semisynthetic opioids, methadone, and other synthetic opioids) as "prescription" opioid overdoses (1). Between 2013 and 2014, the age-adjusted rate of death involving methadone remained unchanged; however, the age-adjusted rate of death involving natural and semisynthetic opioid pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids, other than methadone (e.g., fentanyl) increased 9%, 26%, and 80%, respectively. The sharp increase in deaths involving synthetic opioids, other than methadone, in 2014 coincided with law enforcement reports of increased availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, a synthetic opioid; however, illicitly manufactured fentanyl cannot be distinguished from prescription fentanyl in death certificate data. These findings indicate that the opioid overdose epidemic is worsening. There is a need for continued action to prevent opioid abuse, dependence, and death, improve treatment capacity for opioid use disorders, and reduce the supply of illicit opioids, particularly heroin and illicit fentanyl.

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Authors
Rudd, R. A., Aleshire, N., Zibbell, J. E., & Gladden, R. M.
Affiliations
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (US)
ORCID
Venue
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Publisher
Centers for Disease Control MMWR Office
Published
2016-01-01
Volume
64
Issue
50-51
Pages
1378-1382
ISSN
  • 0149-2195 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-861X
DOI
10.15585/mmwr.mm6450a3
OpenAlex
W2292748019
Cited by
1,859
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 144 · 2020: 242 · 2019: 271 · 2018: 332 · 2017: 406 · 2016: 169 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
FWCI
321.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
Keywords
drug overdose deaths, opioid overdose deaths, opioid epidemic, heroin, illicitly manufactured fentanyl, synthetic opioids, methadone, mortality trends, age-adjusted death rates, opioid use disorder, opioid supply
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Analgesics, Opioid, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, United States, Young Adult, Drug Overdose

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