Opioid Epidemic: Addiction Statistics

The opioid epidemic is considered a public health emergency, with 217 deaths per day and climbing.

Key Findings

80K

Almost 80,000 people die every year from opioid overdose.

9M

Nearly 9 million people misuse opioids in a year.

76%

Opioids are a factor in at least 7 out of every 10 overdose deaths

Related reports include Drug Abuse Statistics | Alcohol Abuse Statistics | Average Cost of Drug Rehab | Drug Overdose Death Statistics | Teenage Drug Use Statistics | Fentanyl Abuse Statistics | Marijuana Addiction Statistics | Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics

Jump to a state: AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY

Opioid Epidemic Statistics

In response to the opioid epidemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially declared a public health emergency in 2017.

Scope and Impact of Opioid Crisis

• 79,358 people overdosed on opioids in 2023
• 3.2%of American adults abused opioids, including illegally made fentanyl, in 2023.
• 75.6% of overdose deaths involve opioids.
• Overdose (OD) deaths involving opioids increased 885.8% from 1999 to 2023.
• 69.3% (#2) of all OD deaths are attributed to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.

Health Consequences of Opioid and Injection Drug Use

• 0.62% of hospital births are cases of neonatal opioid withdrawal (NOW) syndrome.
• 52% of acute hepatitis C infections were attributed to intravenous drug use (IDU) in 2022.
• More than 2,350 new cases of HIV/AIDS were attributed to IDU in 2023.

Opioid Abuse Statistics

Although statistics indicate the new users may be on the decline, the opioid crisis persists. Many reports understate its severity by excluding illegally manufactured fentanyl (IMF), a major driver of overdose deaths.

• An estimated 2.44 million people abused opioids, in the past month, averaging more than 80,000 people per day.
• 8.90 million people aged 12 years and older abused opioids in 2023.
• This is down 0.18% from 2022 when 8.92 million people abused opioids.
• 660,000 people abused heroin last in 2023.
• Opioid abuse costs an estimated $1.5 trillion annually in the form of healthcare, legal programs, and lost productivity.

Opioid Abuse Among Demographics

Opioid misuse continues to rise in several racial and employment groups, with the highest rates among Native populations and those with lower levels of education.

Opioid Abuse by Race and Gender

• Males aged 26 and older consistently abuse opioids more than females.
• Adult misuse is most prevalent among American Indian or Alaska Natives (6.7%) and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islanders (5.0%).
• Between 2022 and 2023, annual adult opioid misuse increased by 6.34% among American Indian or Alaska Natives, 6.25% among Asians, and 3.23% among White adults.

Opioid Abuse by Education and Employment

• People without a high school diploma are most likely to use opioids, with 4.1% using in 2023.
• Opioid use increased among high school graduates by 5.56% in 2023.
• 4.1% of unemployed adults misused opioids in 2023, down from 6.6% in 2022.
• 2.3% of part-time employees misused opioids in 2023, down from 3.0% in 2022.
• Opioid abuse increased among full-time employees, to 3.1% up from 3.0%.

Teenagers & Opioid Abuse

Overall opioid abuse has declined among teenagers, possibly due to more aggressive education strategies.

• 2.2% of people aged 12 to 17 years abused opioids in 2023.
• This is up 37.5% from 2022 when 1.6% of people aged 12 to 17 abused opioids.
• 0.6% of people aged 12 to 17 abused opioids in the past month.
• 2.7% of Hispanic or Latino teenagers aged 12 to 17 misuse opioids in a year.
• Teenagers who legitimately use prescribed opioids are 33% more likely to misuse opioids after high school.
• 140,000 12- and 13-year-olds used opioids in 2023, a 21.7% increase from the previous year.
• Opioid use also increased 61.4% among 14- and 15-year-olds and by 38.1% among 16- and 17-year-olds.
• 1.8% of 12- and 13-year-olds misused opioids in 2023.
• 2.3% of 14- and 15-year-olds and 2.5% of 16- and 17-year-olds misused opioids.

Opioid Subcategories
Natural opioids include morphine and codeine.
Semi-synthetic opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is usually categorized on its own in official data.
Synthetic opioids other than methadone include tramadol and fentanyl.
Heroin is an illegally manufactured synthetic opioid made from morphine.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is the deadliest of all opioids. It is widely available, and often used to supplement other types of opioids.

• Nearly 73,000 people died from a fentanyl overdose in 2023.
• Fentanyl OD death rates are 18.5 times higher than heroin OD death rates.
• Fentanyl OD deaths outpace prescription opioid OD deaths by 458.7%.
• Fentanyl is 50 times more portent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine
• 1 kilogram of fentanyl contains nearly 500,000 lethal doses.

Read our related report on Fentanyl Abuse.

Opioid Prescription Dispense Rates

Year	Total Prescriptions	Prescriptions per 100 People
2006	216M	72.4
2007	229M	75.9
2008	238M	78.2
2009	244M	79.5
2010	251M	81.2
2011	252M	80.9
2012	255M	81.3
2013	247M	80.9
2014	241M	81.3
2015	227M	78.1
2016	215M	66.5
2017	192M	59.0
2018	168M	51.4
2019	153M	46.8
2020	143M	43.2
2021	140M	42.0
2022	132M	39.5
2023	125M	37.5

Prescription Opioids

The rate of opioid prescriptions does not appear to have a direct effect on the number of prescription overdoses.

• Up to 96% of opioid abusers misuse prescription opioids at least once in a year.
• Prescription opioids are a factor in 12.4% of opioid overdose deaths.
• Pharmacies fill 125 million opioid prescriptions in a year.
• In 2023, doctors wrote enough opioid prescriptions for 37.5% of Americans to receive one.
• The opioid prescription rate in 2023 was 24.8% lower than it was in 2019.

Read our related report on Prescription Drug Abuse.

Heroin

Reduced prescription availability appears to correlate with an increase in heroin usage.

• 50.9% of heroin users have misused prescription opioids as well.
• Nearly 4,000 annual opioid overdoses involve heroin.
• 7.4% of opioid abusers use heroin.
• Washington D.C. has the highest heroin overdose rate in the nation, with 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by New York with 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

Opioid Epidemic by State

State trends depict different stages of the opioid epidemic, such as synthetic opioid deaths surpassing and supplanting heroin opioid deaths.

• West Virginia has the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths per capita, with 71.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
• West Virginia also has the highest rate of neonatal opioid withdrawal (NOW) syndrome, with 68.0 cases per 1,000 births.
• New Hampshire has the highest rate of opioid overdose among all overdose deaths at 90.7%
• Washington D.C. and West Virginia have the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, at 98.0% and 96.0%, respectively.
• New Hampshire and Washington D.C. have the lowest rates of prescription opioid overdose deaths, each at 6.3%
• Wyoming has the highest rate of opioid overdose involving prescription opioids at 39.5%
• South Dakota has the lowest rate of overdose involving heroin at 0%
• Illinois and New York have the highest rates of overdose involving heroin at 14.5% and 13.8%, respectively.
• Hawaii has the lowest rate of opioid prescriptions, with doctors writing enough prescriptions for 22.6%of residents to have one.
• Hawaii also has the lowest rate of NOW syndrome cases at 3.2 per 1,000 births.
• Wyoming has the lowest rate of overdose involving synthetic opioids at 66.3%.

State-level opioid overdose statistics

State	Opioid OD Deaths	Deaths per 100,000
Alabama	1,202	25.7
Alaska	290	40.1
Arizona	1,950	27.3
Arkansas	314	10.9
California	7,888	19.7
Colorado	1,304	21.6
Connecticut	1,187	31.9
Delaware	457	47.0
D.C.	350	49.6
Florida	5,049	23.3
Georgia	1,881	17.5
Hawaii	133	9.4
Idaho	265	14.4
Illinois	2,893	22.5
Indiana	1,699	26.4
Iowa	253	8.4
Kansas	423	14.9
Kentucky	1,625	38.1
Louisiana	1,118	26.0
Maine	514	39.3
Maryland	2,203	34.1
Massachusetts	2,109	30.0
Michigan	2,305	23.4
Minnesota	994	18.1
Mississippi	493	18.1
Missouri	1,458	25.0
Montana	129	12.0
Nebraska	78	4.3
Nevada	862	26.5
New Hampshire	399	30.2
New Jersey	2,350	25.0
New Mexico	714	35.9
New York	5,308	26.2
North Carolina	2,915	28.4
North Dakota	87	11.7
Ohio	3,805	34.0
Oklahoma	836	21.7
Oregon	1,384	32.1
Pennsylvania	3,576	28.4
Rhode Island	347	32.2
South Carolina	1,717	33.4
South Dakota	48	5.7
Tennessee	2,930	42.9
Texas	3,181	10.5
Utah	499	15.4
Vermont	232	38.2
Virginia	2,078	24.1
Washington	2,835	35.0
West Virginia	1,184	71.6
Wisconsin	1,421	25.1
Wyoming	86	15.0

Alabama

• 1,202 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 74.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.5% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 3.7% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 13.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 25.7 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 7.1% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 16.6 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 71.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 27.6 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 45.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Alaska

• 290 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 80.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.5% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 5.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.0% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 40.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 67.1% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 26.6 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 30.4% of residents to have one.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 1.8 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Arizona

• 1,950 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 74.3% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 10.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 27.3 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 13.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 20.5 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 34.7% of residents to have one.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 59.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Arkansas

• 314 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 60.9% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 85.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 24.5% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 10.9 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 54.6% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 5.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 71.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 14.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 19.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

California

• 7,888 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 69.3% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.0% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 10.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 19.7 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 17.9% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 7.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 23.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 82.7 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 313.9 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Colorado

• 1,304 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 69.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 87.9% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 14.6% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 21.6 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 10.0% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 13.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 14.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 30.7 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Connecticut

• 1,187 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 90.1% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 7.2% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 12.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 31.9 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 32.9% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 21.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 7.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 15.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Delaware

• 457 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 87.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 5.3% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 6.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 47.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 95.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 49.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 39.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 8.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 6.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

District of Columbia

• 350 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 82.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 98.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 12.3% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 6.3% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 49.6 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 106.7% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 5.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 30.3% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 12.5 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 12.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Florida

• 5,049 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 72.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 16.0% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 23.3 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 2.9% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 12.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 37.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 760.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 283.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Georgia

• 1,881 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 73.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 89.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 5.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 19.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 17.5 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 27.1% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 5.6 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 47.3% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 54.6 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 150.6 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Hawaii

• 133 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 41.6% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 85.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 10.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 15.0% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 9.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 60.8% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 3.2 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 22.6% of residents to have one.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 3.8 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Idaho

• 265 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 68.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 81.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 24.5% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 14.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 40.0% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 10.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 44.2% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 3.6 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 3.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Illinois

• 2,893 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 82.1% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.6% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 14.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 12.3% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 22.5 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 6.3% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 4.6 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 35.2% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 113.4 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 100.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Indiana

• 1,699 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 75.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.7% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 26.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 10.0% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 13.2 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 49.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 78.5 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 43.0 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Iowa

• 253 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 54.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 82.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.0% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 26.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 8.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 65.0% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 4.6 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 34.6% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 7.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 8.7 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Kansas

• 423 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 64.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 83.9% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 20.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 14.9 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 37.9% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 6.5 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 52.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 8.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 9.6 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Kentucky

• 1,625 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 78.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 90.8% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 16.7% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 38.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 58.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 35.8 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 58.3% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 122.7 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 25.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Louisiana

• 1,118 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 50.3% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.8% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 5.7% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 17.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 26.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 8.3% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 9.5 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 62.7% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 85.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 54.8 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Maine

• 514 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 86.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 95.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 12.3% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 39.3 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 63.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 54.7 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 33.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 48.9 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 2.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Maryland

• 2,203 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 86.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.5% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.2% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 8.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 34.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 42.1% more than the national death rate.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.9% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 21.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 46.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Massachusetts

• 2,109 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 88.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 95.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 3.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 7.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 30.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 25.0% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 27.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 28.6% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 71.2 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 34.0 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Michigan

• 2,305 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 80.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 3.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 10.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 23.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 2.5% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 12.8 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 47.9% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 52.5 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 44.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Minnesota

• 994 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 74.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 10.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 18.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 24.6% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 14.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 26.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 26.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 20.5 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Mississippi

• 493 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 70.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.3% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 15.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 18.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 24.6% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 5.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 63.1% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 1.6 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 33.5 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Missouri

• 1,458 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 73.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 9.7% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 25.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 4.2% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 14.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 47.0% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 8.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 35.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Montana

• 129 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 68.6% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 76.7% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 19.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 12.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 50.0% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 21.5 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 40.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 16.1 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 1.9 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Nebraska

• 78 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 45.3% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 78.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 30.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 4.3 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 82.1% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 4.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 42.7% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 3.1 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 6.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Nevada

• 862 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 67.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 82.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 7.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 19.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 26.5 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 10.4% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 14.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 40.1% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 7.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 36.6 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

New Hampshire

• 399 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 90.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 95.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 6.3% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 30.2 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 25.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 52.8 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 30.9% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 3.1 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 2.2 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

New Jersey

• 2,350 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 87.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 6.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 25.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 4.2% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 8.0 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 26.3% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 34.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 59.7 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

New Mexico

• 714 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 71.9% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.2% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 12.5% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 35.9 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 49.6% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 21.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 33.7% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 10.4 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 11.9 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

New York

• 5,308 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 83.9% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 13.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 14.6% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 26.2 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 9.2% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 9.8 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 26.3% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 195.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 151.2 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

North Carolina

• 2,915 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 82.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.2% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 28.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 18.3% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 20.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 46.7% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 29.6 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 89.0 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

North Dakota

• 87 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 71.3% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 87.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.7 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 51.3% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 21.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.4% of residents to have one.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 1.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Ohio

• 3,805 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 80.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 8.7% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 34.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 41.7% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 24.2 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 40.7% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 46.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 56.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Oklahoma

• 836 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 65.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 90.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.4% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 13.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 21.7 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 9.6% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 11.2 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 52.9% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 11.4 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 24.6 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Oregon

• 1,384 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 77.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.9% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 3.3% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 9.0% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 32.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 33.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 14.0 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 40.0% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 6.2 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 15.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Pennsylvania

• 3,576 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 75.2% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 28.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 18.3% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 31.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 36.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 110.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 58.8 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Rhode Island

• 347 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 84.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.4% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 12.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 32.2 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 34.2% more than the national death rate.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 30.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 7.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 4.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

South Carolina

• 1,717 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 78.9% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 91.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 15.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 33.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 39.2% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 9.8 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 48.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 1.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 53.4 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

South Dakota

• 48 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 50.5% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 87.5% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 5.7 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 76.3% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 6.7 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 35.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 8.3 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 3.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Tennessee

• 2,930 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 81.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.6% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 1.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 13.1% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 42.9 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 78.8% more than the national death rate.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 58.6% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 107.1 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 56.9 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Texas

• 3,181 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 55.9% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 82.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 13.5% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 18.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 10.5 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 56.3% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 3.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.2% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 21.8 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 323.9 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Utah

• 499 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 72.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 67.5% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 11.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 38.3% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 15.4 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 35.8% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 15.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 43.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 96.2 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 9.8 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Vermont

• 232 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 89.6% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.8% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 4.3% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 7.8% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 38.2 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 59.2% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 61.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 27.9% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 11.4 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 0.6 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Virginia

• 2,078 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 83.8% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 94.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 7.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 8.2% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 24.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 0.4% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 16.4 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 11.4 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 55.5 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Washington

• 2,835 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 81.5% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.7% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 2.4% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 8.9% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 35.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 45.8% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 19.9 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 34.5% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 52.5 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 26.7 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

West Virginia

• 1,184 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 86.0% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 96.0% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 0.8% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 11.4% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 71.6 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 198.3% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 68.0 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 46.4% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 44.2 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 6.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Wisconsin

• 1,421 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 80.4% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 92.1% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 12.6% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 17.6% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 25.1 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 4.6% more than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 16.3 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 32.8% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 51.5 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 16.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Wyoming

• 86 people died from opioid overdose in 2023.
• Opioids are a factor in 63.7% of all overdose deaths.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 66.3% of all opioid overdose deaths.
• 39.5% of opioid overdose deaths involve prescription opioids.
• 15.0 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose, which is 37.5% less than the national death rate.
• In 2020, 9.1 of every 1,000 births were diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough prescriptions for 43.0% of residents to have one.
• An estimated 1.0 new cases of hepatitis C were linked to intravenous drug use in 2022.
• Intravenous drug use was connected to approximately 1.3 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2023.

Opioid Overdose Statistics

• Between 1999 and 2023, the national opioid overdose death rate grew at an average annual rate of 8.8%.

Signs of an Overdose

If you know someone who uses opioids, watch for these overdose symptoms.

• Cold, clammy skin
• Cyanosis
• Pinpoint Pupils
• Slowed respiration
• Unconsciousness*

*If someone is sleeping or unconscious, move them into the recovery position.

Recovery Position

After calling 911, place any unconscious person in the recovery position; this allows any bodily fluids to drain out of the mouth and nose.

1. Place the person on their side.
2. Bend their knees (as in the fetal position).
3. Rest their head on top of the arm closest to the floor.

Sources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Survey of Drug Use and Health Releases
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Overdose Death Rates
3. National Library of Medicine, Addiction in America
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hepatitis C
6. American Academy of Pediatrics, Prescription Opioids in Adolescence 
7. Joint Economic Committee, Economic Toll of the Opioid Crisis
8. State Health Access Data Assistance Center, Opioid-related and Other Drug Poisoning Deaths by State
9. KFF, Opioid Overdose Deaths by State
10. National Library of Medicine, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome by State
11. United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Facts About Fentanyl