The number of drug overdose deaths continues to climb, increasing by nearly 5% from 2018 to 2019. Alarmingly, overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, with opioids involved in more than 70% of the 70,630 deaths reported in 2019.
From 2018 to 2019, notable changes were observed in opioid-related death rates:
Death rates involving opioids increased by over 6%.
Death rates linked to prescription opioids decreased by nearly 7%.
Heroin-related deaths dropped by more than 6%.
Deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone) rose sharply by over 15%.
Three Waves of the Opioid Crisis
Since 1999, nearly 500,000 people have lost their lives to opioid overdoses. This crisis has unfolded in three distinct waves:
The First Wave (1990s):
Increased opioid prescriptions in the 1990s led to a steady rise in overdose deaths involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids, as well as methadone.
The Second Wave (2010):
Overdose deaths involving heroin began to increase rapidly.
The Third Wave (2013):
The introduction of illicitly manufactured fentanyl marked a significant shift. Deaths involving synthetic opioids skyrocketed, with fentanyl often combined with heroin, counterfeit pills, or cocaine, increasing its presence in the drug supply.
Many opioid-related overdoses involve polysubstance use, further complicating the epidemic.
Combating the Opioid Epidemic
Every day, 136 lives are lost to opioid overdoses, including those involving both prescription and illicit opioids. The CDC remains at the forefront of efforts to address this crisis, working with states and communities to prevent overdoses, improve data collection, and enhance care for affected individuals.
The Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, a three-year cooperative agreement, funds health departments across 47 states, Washington, D.C., two territories, and 16 cities and counties. OD2A focuses on:
Tracking nonfatal and fatal overdoses in real-time.
Enhancing toxicology methods to understand polysubstance-involved deaths better.
Improving prescription drug monitoring programs.
Linking individuals with opioid use disorder to appropriate care.
Implementing prevention strategies in healthcare systems and communities.
CDC’s Strategic Efforts
The CDC’s multifaceted approach includes:
Monitoring Trends: Analyzing overdose patterns to guide targeted interventions.
Advancing Research: Enhancing data collection and quality to identify needed areas and evaluate prevention measures.
Building Capacity: Supporting state, local, and tribal efforts with resources and evidence-based strategies.
Supporting Providers: Equipping healthcare professionals with tools to improve opioid prescribing practices and patient safety.
Public Safety Partnerships: Collaborating with law enforcement and community organizations to combat illicit opioid distribution.
Raising Awareness: Educating the public on the risks of opioid misuse and promoting safer choices.
Collaboration for Prevention
Preventing opioid overdose deaths requires collective action. Healthcare providers, first responders, public safety officials, community organizations, and individuals all play a critical role in addressing this crisis.
Through shared resources, expertise, and coordinated efforts, stakeholders can make meaningful progress in reducing overdose deaths and supporting communities affected by the opioid epidemic. Together, these collaborations represent a unified commitment to saving lives and reversing the devastating impacts of this public health emergency.
