Provisional Monthly Drug Overdose Deaths from August 2019 to August 2020

Today, NCHS released the next set of monthly provisional drug overdose death counts.

Provisional data show that the reported number of drug overdose deaths occurring in the United States increased by 25.1% from the 12 months ending in August 2019 to the 12 months ending in August 2020, from 68,371 to 85,516. 

After adjustments for delayed reporting, the predicted number of drug overdose deaths showed an increase of 26.8% from the 12 months ending in August 2019 to the 12 months ending in August 2020, from 69,640 to 88,295. 

The reported number of opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in August 2020 (62,972) increased from 47,772 in the previous year. The predicted number of opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in August 2020 (65,030) increased from 48,747 in the previous year.

Recent trends may still be partially due to incomplete data. The reported and predicted number of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone; T40.4) and psychostimulants with abuse potential (T43.6) continued to increase compared to the previous year. Both reported and predicted overdose deaths involving cocaine increased compared to the previous year. The reported and predicted number of natural and semi-synthetic opioid deaths also increased compared to the previous year.