Drug Overdose Deaths: United States 2015-2024
Age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths, by sex: United States, 2002–2022
In 2022, 107,941 drug overdose deaths occurred, resulting in an age-adjusted rate of 32.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population. Drug overdose deaths are often initially reported with no cause of death (pending investigation), because they require lengthy investigation, including toxicology testing. Reported provisional counts may not include all deaths that occurred during a given time period.
Rate of drug overdose deaths, by selected age groups 15 and older: United States, 2021 and 2022
Between 2021 and 2022, the rate of drug overdose deaths saw a decline among adults aged 15–24 and 25–34, while the rates increased among adults aged 35 and older. During both years, the highest rates of drug overdose deaths were observed in adults aged 35–44, with figures of 62.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021 and 63.1 in 2022. Conversely, the rates were lowest for adults aged 65 and older, recording 12.0 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 and 13.2 in 2022. Notably, adults aged 65 and older experienced the largest percentage increase in drug overdose death rates from 2021 to 2022, with a 10.0% rise, from 12.0 to 13.2 deaths per 100,000.
Drug Overdose Mortality by State
