Fatal Overdoses
Deaths per 100,000 population from drug overdoses.
Why did we include this measure?
Fatal overdoses are a concern not only because of the direct loss of life but also because the use of powerful drugs reflects a broader problem with addiction. Most people who use these drugs do not die from them but do get addicted and this can physically change how our brains and bodies work in ways that make it difficult to stop using them. The fact that so many are using such high-risk drugs reflects a broader mental health crisis.
The most common drugs leading to overdose are opioids (including fentanyl, oxycodone, and heroin), stimulants (including cocaine and methamphetamines, commonly called “meth”), and sedatives (including Xanax and Valium). We focus on fatal overdoses because these reflect more extreme drug use and because they are measured more accurately than nonfatal overdoses. (When overdoses are judged to be intentional, they are also counted as suicides, which we discuss separately below.)
How does the US rank globally?
- Specific Measure: Deaths per 100,000 population from drug use disorders.
(Source: Authors’ analysis of Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation data).
- Percentage of countries the US outperforms: 0% (out of 115 countries)
- International Rank Trend: Worsening
National Trend Worsening
What do the data show?
We come in last among the world’s high-income countries and are getting worse each year. There are some signs that opioid overdoses may be tapering off, but they are still very high by historical standards.
What might explain these patterns?
The primary cause of the rise in fatal overdoses appears to be increased supply and use of powerful drugs. This is partially driven by the increased availability of drugs and drug combinations that produce stronger effects and pose greater risks. Drugs like fentanyl are becoming more accessible and are far more potent than heroin and morphine, for example. The illicit production of such drugs also means that users often do not know what they are consuming. Illicit drugs are often mixed with cheaper and more dangerous drugs that users are not aware of. The rise in overdoses may also be related to the declining mental health shown in other measures in this section as well as under the Life Satisfaction section.
For more information about data sources and treatments, download the Data Notes.