U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease in 2023, First Time Since 2018

Provisional data from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023—a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022. This is the first annual decrease in drug overdose deaths since 2018.

The data are featured in an interactive web data visualization. The 2023 data presented in this visualization are provisional—they are incomplete and subject to change as more 2023 data are submitted to the National Vital Statistics System.

The new data show overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083 in 2023. While overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) increased.

Several states across the nation saw decreases; Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and Maine experienced declines of 15% or more. Still, some states saw increases. Alaska, Washington, and Oregon stood out with notable increases of at least 27% compared to the same period in 2022.

The visualization includes:

• Reported and predicted (estimated) provisional counts of deaths due to drug overdose occurring nationally and in each jurisdiction.
• U.S. map of the percentage changes in provisional drug overdose deaths for the 12-month period ending in December 2023 compared with the 12-month period ending in December 2022, by jurisdiction.
• Reported and predicted provisional counts of drug overdose deaths involving specific drugs or drug classes occurring nationally and in selected jurisdictions.

NCHS releases both reported and predicted provisional drug overdose death counts each month. They represent the numbers of these deaths due to drug overdose occurring in the 12-month periods ending in the month indicated. Deaths are reported by the jurisdiction in which the death occurred.

*Deaths may involve multiple drugs, while others might not specify any specific drug. As a result, the sum of deaths attributed to specific drugs may not equal the total number of drug overdose deaths.