A nonprofit organization’s analysis of government data estimates drug overdose deaths increased 1.7% in 2023 to reach a new record high.
The CDC estimates that more than 111,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12-month period that ended in April. More than 77,000 of those deaths involved fentanyl and other synthetic opioids other than methadone. Both are record highs and increases over the prior year, according to Families Against Fentanyl.
The Families Against Fentanyl analysis of CDC data found that illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioid deaths increased 4.9%.
The report comes as federal, state and local governments are working to reduce opioid deaths.
Oregon had the highest rate of increase in fentanyl deaths in the nation with a one-year increase of more than 67%, compared to a national average of 4.9%. The state also ranked second highest in the nation for increases in overdose deaths overall, with an increase of 23%, according to the Families Against Fentanyl report.
