West Virginia is currently the state with the highest drug overdose death rate in the United States, with 91 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021. Although West Virginia had the highest drug overdose death rate at that time, California was the state where the most people died from drug overdose. In 2020, around 8,908 people in California died from a drug overdose.
The main perpetrator
Opioids account for the majority of all drug overdose deaths in the United States. Opioids include both illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as legal prescription drugs like oxycodone. The abuse of opioids has increased in recent years leading to an increased number of drug overdose deaths. In 2016 and 2017, the death rate from heroin overdose hit an all time high of 4.9 per 100,000 population. In 2010 there was only one death from heroin overdose per 100,000 population.
Opioid epidemic
The sharp rise in overdose deaths from opioids have led many to declare the United States is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic or opioid crisis. The causes of this epidemic are complicated but involve a combination of a rise in dispensed prescriptions, irresponsible marketing from pharmaceutical companies, a lack of physician-patient communication, increased social acceptance of prescription drugs, and an increased supply of cheap and potent heroin on the streets.
Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state
(per 100,000 population)
Characteristic
Deaths per 100,000 population
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Kaiser Family Foundation. (August 9, 2023). Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state (per 100,000 population) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/
Kaiser Family Foundation. "Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state (per 100,000 population)." Chart. August 9, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state (per 100,000 population). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/
Kaiser Family Foundation. "Drug Overdose Death Rate in The United States in 2021, by State (per 100,000 Population)." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/
Kaiser Family Foundation, Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state (per 100,000 population) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Drug overdose death rate in the United States in 2021, by state (per 100,000 population) [Graph], Kaiser Family Foundation, August 9, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/686415/top-ten-leading-states-concerning-death-rate-of-drug-overdose-in-the-us/