Table of Contents/Chapter Index
Recently updated sections include:
- Causes of Death
- Drug Use Prevalence and Trends
- Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA)
- Fentanyl
- Harm Reduction
- Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs
- Marijuana
- New/Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Overdose
![chart comparing relative dangers and addictive properties of several commonly used substances](/sites/default/files/relativerisk01.jpg)
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 August 4, 2024, in calendar year 2023 at least 106,875 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 108,317.
The CDC also reports that in the 12-month period ending March 31, 2024, at least 99,684 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 103,451.
- 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 July 23, 2024.
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Most recent updates August 31, 2024 by Doug McVay, Editor.