Provisional Number of Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S. by Drug or Drug Class, through March 31, 2018

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System.

On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, NCHS released its latest monthly provisional estimates of drug overdose deaths in the United States in a web-only data visualization dashboard.  The latest data cover the period April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018.

The figure shown above illustrates the drug or drug class responsible for these overdose deaths.  Opioids (any kind) accounted for 46,655 reported deaths over this period (Predicted number of deaths: 48,400);  synthetic opioids, excluding methadone (and including Fentanyl) accounted for 28,826 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 30,051);  Heroin accounted for 14,964 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 15,424); Cocaine accounted for 14,205 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 14,711); natural and semi-synthetic opioids (including oxycodone and other prescription opioids) accounted for 13,866 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 14,490); Psychostimulants with abuse potential (which include methamphetamine) accounted for 10,767 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 11,249); and Methadone accounted for 3,153 reported deaths (Predicted number of deaths: 3,286).

For more information, visit the data visualization gallery on the NCHS web site at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm.