Drug Policy Facts

Table of Contents/Chapter Index

 

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chart comparing relative dangers and addictive properties of several commonly used substances

Source: "Is Nicotine Addictive? It Depends on Whose Criteria You Use." New York Times, Aug. 2, 1994.


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According to the US Centers for Disease Control, using provisional data available for analysis on October 6, 2024, in calendar year 2023 at least 106,881 people in the US were reported to have died from drug overdose and toxins in the unregulated drug supply. These provisional data are incomplete and the CDC predicts that the final number of deaths in the US in calendar year 2023 due to overdose and toxins in the unregulated drug supply will be 108,323.

The CDC also reports that in the 12-month period ending May 31, 2024, at least 94,758 people in the US were reported to have died from drug overdose and a toxic unregulated drug supply. These provisional data are incomplete and the CDC predicts that the final number of deaths from overdose and toxins in the unregulated drug supply in that 12-month period will be 98,820. 

The CDC further reports:

  • In calendar year 2022, at least 109,413 people in the US were reported to have died from drug overdose and toxins in the unregulated drug supply. The CDC predicts that the final number of overdose deaths in calendar year 2022 will be 111,029.
  • In calendar year 2021, at least 107,573 people in the US were reported to have died from drug overdose and toxins in the unregulated drug supply. The CDC predicts that the final number of overdose deaths in calendar year 2021 will be 109,179.

Source: Ahmad FB, Cisewski JA, Rossen LM, Sutton P. Provisional drug overdose death counts. Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. Last accessed October 16, 2024.


Since it first went online in 1998 as Drug War Facts, Drug Policy Facts provides reliable information from authoritative sources, with full citations, on important issues related to drug control policies and the failed drug war. It is updated continuously by its current Editor, Doug McVay.

Most charts, facts and figures are from government sources, government-sponsored sources, peer reviewed journals and occasionally newspapers. In all cases the source is cited so that journalists, scholars and students can verify, check context and obtain additional information.

Our mission is to offer useful facts, cited from authoritative sources, to a debate that is often characterized by myths, error, emotion and dissembling. We believe that in time an informed society will correct its errors and generate wiser policies.

Drug Policy Facts is sponsored by the Real Reporting Foundation. Its directors are Ernest Drucker, Ph.D., Chair, Robert E. Field, Co-Chair and President, Melvin R. Allen, JD, David Borden, Balázs Denés, JD, Kris Krane, and Doug McVay.

Drug Policy Facts has a sister site, World Health Systems Facts. World Health Systems Facts follows the same approach as Drug Policy Facts, providing excerpts of current information and statistics with complete citations and links to the source materials. Fact items are meticulously sourced from impeccable sources. These include government research, peer reviewed journals, international organizations, research foundations, and more. This project is also done without bias or editorial comment.

To the extent of its copyrights, Real Reporting Foundation authorizes and encourages the use and republication of some or all portions of this book. Questions, comments or suggestions for additions and modifications are most welcome and may be addressed to Doug McVay at dmcvay@drugwarfacts.org.


List of chapters.


"A critical resource for anyone seeking accurate information on drug policy... essential!" — Maia Szalavitz, Award-Winning Journalist and Author of the NY Times Bestseller "Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction"

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Most recent updates November 4, 2024 by Doug McVay, Editor.