Opioid Overdose
The number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4% from 2017 to 2018.
Still more than 67,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2018, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States.
Of those deaths, almost 70% involved a prescription or illicit opioid.
Learn more about opioids. Help protect yourself and your loved ones from opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs are among the most promising state-level interventions.
CDC’s opioid prescribing guideline for chronic pain 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.
- CDC MMWR: Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths – United States, 2017-2018
- Drug-Free Communities: Nearly $25M Available to Substance Use Prevention Coalitions
- Feature: America’s Drug Overdose Epidemic: Data to Action
- Feature: Talk to Your Doctor About Managing Your Pain
- 2018 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug Related Risks and Outcomespdf icon
- CDC Vital Signs: Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies
- More CDC Publications
Ten opioid overdose prevention strategiespdf icon for public heath, law enforcement, local organizations, and others striving to serve their community.
Learn more about Promising State Strategies.
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 iconexternal icon
This site contains information on opioids. To see more of CDC’s work on other substances, visit the CDC A-Z index.
