NCHS Releases Latest Provisional Drug Overdose Data

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NCHS released the latest monthly preliminary counts of drug overdose deaths in the United States, covering the one-year period ending in November of 2020.
Close up of part of a death certificate

Summary

A data story from the National Center for Health Statistics

Author: NCHS

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Map of the U.S. showing percent change in predicted overdose deaths
Figure 1b. Percent Change in Predicted 12-Month-Ending Count of Drug Overdose Deaths, by Jurisdiction: November 2019 to November 2020

NCHS released the latest monthly preliminary counts of drug overdose deaths in the United States, covering the one-year period ending in November of 2020. The data is now available in a web-based interactive dashboard at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm.

Provisional data show that the reported number of drug overdose deaths occurring in the United States increased by 28.9% from the 12 months ending in November 2019 to the 12 months ending in November 2020, from 70,357 to 90,722. After adjustments for delayed reporting, the predicted number of drug overdose deaths showed an increase of 29.4% from the 12 months ending in November 2019 to the 12 months ending in November 2020, from 71,672 to 92,751.

The reported number of opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in November 2020 (67,574) increased from 49,488 in the previous year. The predicted number of opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in November 2020 (69,287) increased from 50,504 in the previous year.