Update to Provisional Drug Overdose Deaths from 12 months ending in February 2022

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Provisional data show that the predicted number of drug overdose deaths showed an increase of almost 12% from the 12 months ending in February 2021 to the 12 months ending in February 2022, from 97,109 to 108,642.
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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Provisional data show that the predicted number of drug overdose deaths showed an increase of almost 12% from the 12 months ending in February 2021 to the 12 months ending in February 2022, from 97,109 to 108,642.

The predicted number of opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in February 2022 (81,857) increased from 72,930 in the previous year. Recent trends may be partially due to incomplete data.

The predicted number of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone; T40.4), psychostimulants with abuse potential (T43.6), and cocaine (T40.5) continued to increase compared to the previous year.