Drug Overdose Deaths

West Virginia has the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation. TN, LA, and KY are also among the 5 worst states for overdose deaths.

Drug overdose death rates, 2021

Age-adjusted per 100,000 population

Source: CDC. Notes: Drug overdose deaths are identified using ICD–10 underlying cause-of-death codes: X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14.

Americans are dying of drug overdoses in record numbers. In 2021, over 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose, up from just 17,415 in 2000.¹ Even back in 2015, when fewer than 53,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, the drug overdose rate in the U.S. was about 3 times higher than other wealthy countries.² Overdose deaths are highest for Americans in jobs that have high injury rates and little paid sick leave such as construction, mining, oil and gas, food service, and personal care.³ The “opioid epidemic” (including heroin and now fentanyl) has also contributed to reduced labor force participation, particularly among men. 75% of employers in a 2019 poll reported that they have been directly affected by opioids.⁴

Pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors have agreed to pay at least $26 billion to states and localities as part of the National Opioid Settlement.⁵ Each state will receive funds over 18 years and can make independent decisions about how to utilize these funds, although 70% is supposed to be spent on opioid-related expenses.⁶ Like American Rescue Plan funds, communities can ensure that opioid settlement funds are dedicated to community priorities by connecting and engaging with their local and state leaders, insisting on transparency, and using data and storytelling to amplify community needs.⁷

1. “Drug Overdoses”. NSC Injury Facts. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/drugoverdoses/data-details/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%2098%2C268%20people%20died,%2C%20homicide%2C%20and%20undetermined%20intents.

2. “The Contemporary American Drug Overdose Epidemic in International Perspective”. Ho. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6527318/ 

3. “Poll: 75% of Employers Say Their Workplace Impacted by Opioid Use”. NSC. March, 2019. https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/poll-75-of-employers-say-their-workplace-impacted-by-opioid-use

4. “State Approaches for Distribution of National Opioid Settlement Funding”. NASHP. https://nashp.org/state-approaches-for-distribution-of-national-opioid-settlement-funding/#:~:text=States%20are%20in%20the%20process,of%20the%20National%20Opioid%20Settlement.

5. “DISTRIBUTOR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT”. National Opioid Settlement. March, 2022. https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Final_Distributor_Settlement_Agreement_3.25.22_Final.pdf

6. “YOUR VOICE. YOUR RECOVERY.” The Southern Economic Advancement Project. March, 2023. https://theseap.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ARP_Activist_Playbook.pdf