CDC Reports Nearly 24% Decline in U S. Drug Overdose Deaths CDC Newsroom

Publicado em 18 de outubro de 2023

Cano is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work who for eight years was a substance use clinician. He studies trends and disparities in deaths from drug overdoses, especially in Hispanic populations. Even if someone recovers from a drug overdose, there can still be long term effects that may affect them for the rest of their lives. If you witness someone with these symptoms, it is important to seek medical help immediately.

But now, deaths nationwide plunged more than 26% from the peak in June 2023, according to the latest preliminary data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly two-thirds (64.5%) of the 2,112 victims in this study suffered a fatal overdose. Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in nearly 80 percent (79.4%) of the overdose cases in this study. Cases involving an overdose increased by 44 percent between fiscal years 2019 and 2023 in the federal caseload. Finally, another major factor is whether the person has had a previous overdose.

Emergency

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. You can use our free and confidential online insurance checker below to see if your health insurance will cover the cost of treatment. If you have depression or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor right away.

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This can include taking any amount of someone else’s medication or more than the doctor prescribed. One way CDC is working to address drug overdoses is to advance overdose prevention in communities across the country. There were two funding announcements made available in 2023 for city, county, state, and territorial health departments known as the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreements.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very successful form of therapy because it targets a specific problem and finds a solution tailored to the problem.
• If the underlying addiction is left untreated, the risk of overdose arises again.
• The following are some questions people frequently ask about drug overdose.

Drugs involved in overdose

It is the second most common cause of drug-related emergency visits, after alcohol. Fatalities from cocaine overdoses saw a 42 percent increase from 1999 to 2014, as noted by NIDA. Anyone experiencing symptoms of an overdose should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Provisional data shows about 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024, down from around 114,000 the previous year. This is the fewest overdose deaths in any 12-month period since June 2020. The damage can also cause a loss of the senses such as hearing or vision or an impairment in spoken or written communication. Survivors of drug overdoses may also develop long term physical problems, such as loss of coordination or control over their bodily functions. They may experience nerve damage and reduction in the ability to use their limbs.

The most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs are opioids, stimulants and depressants. Do not leave it up to the person to tell you they are overdosing; they may not drug overdose meaning know or not be able to communicate it to you. When it comes to drug overdose, being proactive is essential to reversing overdose and preventing death. If you see these signs of overdose, do not abandon the person out of fear of getting in trouble. Recognizing the symptoms of a drug overdose is crucial to treating this reaction. Providing supportive care, administering medication such as naloxone, and calling 911 can all help treat certain types of drug overdose.

So how did the U.S. finally turn the corner on drug deaths?

Drug overdose can occur with prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs and can be intentional or accidental. Symptoms vary based on the type of substance and the amount taken. Any drug overdose can be either accidental or intentional.

Health Care Providers

Many people don’t think about alcohol when drug overdoses are mentioned, but it is possible to overdose on alcohol and it is considered a depressant. Opioids, such as fentanyl, tramadol and morphine, are commonly used for the treatment of severe pain.6  They are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a healthcare provider. However, if opioids become an addiction, misuse can lead to overdose. Sometimes a person who is suicidal may take a fatal amount of drugs as a way of ending their life. In other situations, the overdose is accidental and a result of someone accidently taking too much of a drug. An emergency-medicine specialist in a hospital’s emergency department treats a drug overdose.

It’s distributed for free in many high-risk communities, and people using drugs often carry it. It’s unclear how many lives naloxone is saving each year, but many front-line public health workers tell me the impact is huge. The signs and symptoms of overdose are different for each type of drug (e.g., alcohol, common prescriptions, heroin, cocaine, and other hard drugs). For example, alcohol overdose causes slow heart rate, lack of motor skills, and an inability to wake up. Individuals can overdose, either intentionally or accidentally, on virtually any drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 450,000 people died from overdoses involving any type of opioid from 1999 to 2018.

To prevent an overdose, follow a doctor’s directions for all prescription medications. Seek support for any instances of a substance use disorder. With the right care and prevention strategies, it is possible to treat drug overdoses or prevent them altogether. Although many drug overdoses involve the use of illegal drugs, it is also possible to overdose on prescription medication. Many doctors prescribe opioid medications for pain management. These medications carry a high risk of addiction and overdose, especially if taken outside a doctor’s directions.

Overdose Risk Factors

It’s important to emphasize all of these theories are just that — theories. Most researchers, doctors and front-line care providers say they need more data and more time to understand a shift this large. Many states have a “Good Samaritan Law” that legally protects the person who suffers from the overdose, as well as the person who calls 911 to report the emergency. If you suspect an overdose, the most important thing to do is to call 911 immediately and get the person immediate medical help. A follow-up appointment with your doctor is important for everyone who has had an overdose.

Currently, 49 state and 41 local health departments receive OD2A funding to collect, improve, and immediately use the data in their communities to implement life-saving activities. State and local public health departments, in partnership with CDC experts, use the data to inform where, what, and when overdose prevention efforts are needed in communities to have the greatest impact and save lives. While this national decline is encouraging news, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, highlighting the importance of sustained efforts to ensure this progress continues.

Addressing a substance use disorder can help decrease the chance of a drug overdose. Avoid combining prescription medications with other substances, such as alcohol. Do not share a prescription or take medications prescribed to another individual. The rate of deaths from drug overdose has increased steadily over the past couple of decades.

When taking a prescription medication, always follow a doctor’s instructions and take the medication exactly as they prescribed it. When in doubt about the correct dosage, consult with a doctor or pharmacist. The first step when responding to an overdose of any kind is to contact emergency services. A big question going forward is How low will U.S. drug deaths go? We’ve already seen the biggest, fastest drop in U.S. history.

Peers provide an on-going support system that holds the person accountable and encourages abstinence. They also provide new perspectives for the individuals, while encouraging them to open up. Support groups allow the patient to meet people who are in different stages of recovery.