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Opioid Crisis: Overdose Deaths

Opioid Epidemic in the United States

U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths: By Cause

Drugs, in general, are a serious problem in the country, but it is opioids that are at the heart problem. Opioid overdose deaths vastly outnumber the deaths from cocaine and meth.

U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths: By Cause

Image source: BuzzFeed News via CDC

Three Waves of Opioid Overdose Deaths

According to the CDC, there have been 3 waves of opioid overdose deaths:

  1. The first wave began with increased prescribing of opioids in the 1990s.
  2. The second wave began in 2010, with rapid increases in overdose deaths involving heroin.
  3. The third wave began in 2013, with significant increases in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids – particularly those involving illicitly-manufactured fentanyl.

Overdose Death Graphics

Image source: CDC

Overdose Death Graphics: Prescription Opioids

41 people die every day from overdoses involving prescription opioids

Image source: CDC

Overdose Death Graphics: Illicit Opioids

85 people die every day from overdoses involving synthetic opioids

Image source: CDC

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