Cited by 2,194Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesHIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

Increases in drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths – United States, 2010-2015

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Rudd, Rose A., Seth, Puja, David, Felicita, Scholl, Lawrence·2016·MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Abstract

The U.S. opioid epidemic is continuing, and drug overdose deaths nearly tripled during 1999-2014. Among 47,055 drug overdose deaths that occurred in 2014 in the United States, 28,647 (60.9%) involved an opioid (1). Illicit opioids are contributing to the increase in opioid overdose deaths (2,3). In an effort to target prevention strategies to address the rapidly changing epidemic, CDC examined overall drug overdose death rates during 2010-2015 and opioid overdose death rates during 2014-2015 by subcategories (natural/semisynthetic opioids, methadone, heroin, and synthetic opioids other than methadone).* Rates were stratified by demographics, region, and by 28 states with high quality reporting on death certificates of specific drugs involved in overdose deaths. During 2015, drug overdoses accounted for 52,404 U.S. deaths, including 33,091 (63.1%) that involved an opioid. There has been progress in preventing methadone deaths, and death rates declined by 9.1%. However, rates of deaths involving other opioids, specifically heroin and synthetic opioids other than methadone (likely driven primarily by illicitly manufactured fentanyl) (2,3), increased sharply overall and across many states. A multifaceted, collaborative public health and law enforcement approach is urgently needed. Response efforts include implementing the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (4), improving access to and use of prescription drug monitoring programs, enhancing naloxone distribution and other harm reduction approaches, increasing opioid use disorder treatment capacity, improving linkage into treatment, and supporting law enforcement strategies to reduce the illicit opioid supply.

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  • Globally, opioid dependence contributed 9.2 million disability adjusted life years in 2010.

    “In 2014, over 28 000 people in the USA died of opioid overdoses, translating to 76 deaths from opioids, or three deaths per hour; globally, opioid dependence contributed 9.2 million disability adjusted life years in 2010 [4,5].”
  • In 2014, over 28,000 people in the USA died of opioid overdoses, translating to 76 deaths from opioids, or three deaths per hour.

    “In 2014, over 28 000 people in the USA died of opioid overdoses, translating to 76 deaths from opioids, or three deaths per hour; globally, opioid dependence contributed 9.2 million disability adjusted life years in 2010 [4,5].”

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Authors
Rudd, R. A., Seth, P., David, F., & Scholl, L.
Affiliations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
Venue
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Published
2016-12-30
Volume
65
Issue
5051
Pages
1445-1452
ISSN
  • 0149-2195 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-861X
OpenAlex
W2561135550
Cited by
2,194
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 93 · 2022: 106 · 2021: 211 · 2020: 355 · 2019: 423 · 2018: 533 · 2017: 331 · 2016: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
423.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Keywords
drug overdose deaths, opioid overdose deaths, opioid epidemic, heroin, synthetic opioids, illicitly manufactured fentanyl, methadone, opioid prescribing, prescription drug monitoring programs, naloxone, harm reduction, opioid use disorder treatment, law enforcement, United States
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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