New Report Shows Trends in Opioid Deaths Since 2003
This analysis examines opioid overdose deaths from the last two decades (2003-2023), with a particular focus on the decline in deaths observed in the last six months of 2023. Opioid overdose deaths include fatalities from intentional acts (suicide or homicide), unintentional acts (poisoning or drug assault), or cases of unknown intent. Regardless of other substances involved, any death with opioid involvement is classified as an opioid overdose death. According to provisional 2023 CDC WONDER data, fewer than 1% of deaths remain undetermined. Key takeaways from this analysis include the following:
Fentanyl-involved opioid deaths drove rises in overall overdose deaths, by over 23-fold from 2013 to 2023, while prescription opioid deaths stayed steady and heroin deaths declined.
In the second half of 2023, opioid overdose deaths started to decline, and by December 2023, they were 20% fewer than there were in December 2022. While it is unclear how much any specific policy may have contributed to the decline, a number of policies were implemented, including those focused on reducing supply of fentanyl, increasing treatment, and improving access to harm reduction supplies—such as opioid overdose reversal medication.
Opioid death rates varied widely by race, ethnicity, age, and sex. In the second half of 2023, White people saw the largest decline (-14%) while declines in other racial and ethnic groups were much smaller. Opioid deaths increased for people 65+, while falling in all other age groups.
In 2023, opioid death rates were the highest in WV, DC, and DE (71.4, 49.9, and 47.5/100,000, respectively), while states with the lowest opioid death rates included NE, SD, and IA (4.3, 5.7, and 8.4/100,000, respectively). In three-quarters of states, opioid deaths declined in the last six months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
