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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce drug overdose deaths — SU‑03 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Getting worse

  Getting worse

Most Recent Data:
32.6 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (2022) *

Target:
20.7 per 100,000 *

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
20.7 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population occurred in 2018 *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

Drug overdose is a leading cause of injury deaths across the United States — but some populations, like certain racial/ethnic groups, are disproportionately affected. Implementing an evidence-based, culturally responsive, multisectoral approach is critical to reducing disparities in overdose death rates.

In 2021, there were 32.4 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population. *

Data Sources:  National Vital Statistics System - Mortality (NVSS-M), CDC/NCHS ; Population Estimates, Census

Disparities in drug overdose death rates by race and ethnicity: Highest/lowest rate * ‡

In 2021, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people had the highest group rate of drug overdose deaths (56.6 per 100,000 population). Non-Hispanic Asian people (reference group) had the lowest group rate (4.7 per 100,000 population).

The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people was more than 12 times the rate among non-Hispanic Asian people (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 52.0 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in drug overdose death rates by race and ethnicity: All groups * ‡

In 2021, non-Hispanic Asian people had the lowest group rate of drug overdose deaths (4.7 per 100,000 population).

  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people was more than 4 times the lowest group rate.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among Hispanic or Latino people was 4.5 times the lowest group rate.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic multiracial people was more than 4.5 times the lowest group rate.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic White people was more than 7.5 times the lowest group rate.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Black or African American people was 9.5 times the lowest group rate.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people was more than 12 times the lowest group rate.

Drug overdose deaths (per 100,000 population), 2021 *

4.7 Non-Hispanic Asian people
20.1 Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people
21.1 Hispanic or Latino people
21.5 Non-Hispanic multiracial people
36.8 Non-Hispanic White people
44.2 Non-Hispanic Black or African American people
56.6 Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people

Find data for additional demographic groups.