Opioid Overdose
Drug overdose deaths continue to increase in the United States. From 1999 to 2017, more than 702,000 people have died from a drug overdose. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Of those deaths, almost 68% involved a prescription or illicit opioid.
Learn more about opioids in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose.
Consider ways to increase use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, which are among the most promising state-level interventions.
Consider CDC’s opioid prescribing guideline for chronic pain, which helps primary care providers offer safer, more effective care.
CDC is committed to an approach that protects the public’s health and prevents opioid overdose deaths.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to addressing opioid abuse, dependence, and overdose. HHS has developed a five-point comprehensive strategy: (1) better data, (2) better pain treatment, (3) more addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services, (4) more overdose reversers, and (5) better research. Several agencies within HHS have joined the effort.external icon
- 2018 Opioid Overdose Mortality Data
- Helping Communities Take Action Against Opioid Crisis
- 2018 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug Related Risks and Outcomespdf icon
- HAN00413 Rising Numbers of Deaths Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs, Including Carfentanil, and Increased Usage and Mixing with Non-opioids
- CDC Vital Signs: Opioid Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments – Identify Opportunities for Action
- CDC Vital Signs: Opioid Prescribing–Where You Live Matters
- CDC Publications
A new resource summarizes
10 opioid overdose prevention strategies for public heath, law enforcement, local organizations, and others striving to serve their community.
Note: The CDC Opioid Overdose site contains information on opioids. To see more of CDC’s work on other substances, visit the CDC A-Z index.
