Opioids Portal
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. Data released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that opioid overdose deaths increased from 2016 to 2017.
Topics and Resources
Responding to the national opioid crisis is a priority for the Department of Health and Human Services. Learn more about efforts at HHSexternal icon.
Page last reviewed: July 17, 2019