Annual Drug Overdose Deaths Hits Record High In U.S As Toll Surpasses 100,000

Drug overdose deaths in U.S soared to a record high with more than 100,000 Americans dying of drug overdoses during the period between April 2020 and April 2021. Experts believe that pandemic related issues are likely to have exacerbated an already raging public-health crisis.

According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 100,306 people died due to drug overdose between April 2020 and April 2021, compared to 78,056 deaths reported during the previous corresponding period.

According to a provisional data released previously by the CDC, an estimated 93,000 died from drug overdose in the year 2020. In 2019, 70,630 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. Nearly 841,000 people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose.

Opioids—mainly synthetic opioids (other than methadone)—are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. 72.9% of opioid-involved overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids.

Officials said the increase was driven by the lethal prevalence of fentanyl as well as pandemic-related stressors and problems in accessing needle-exchange programmes, narcotics support groups and other life-saving measures.

The use of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has spread across the nation. Fentanyl's properties are similar to morphine — but it's "50 to 100 times more potent". Its potency makes it easy to misjudge dosage, especially for new users without a tolerance. It is also frequently cut into other illegal drugs, including cocaine.

Drug Overdose Deaths In U.S Soars To Record High In 2020, Up By Nearly 30% With 93000 Deaths