US records highest drug overdose deaths in 2022
22.03.2024
Voice of Europe Telegram channel
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that nearly 108,000 Americans succumbed to drug overdoses in 2022, marking a record-breaking figure, as reported by CBS News.
The official tally for 2022 stands at 107,941 deaths, a marginal increase of about 1% from the previous year’s nearly 107,000 fatalities. Disturbingly, the fatal overdose rate for synthetic opioids like fentanyl and tramadol rose by 4.1% between 2021 and 2022, alongside increases in cocaine and psychostimulant-related deaths.
Despite some declines observed in specific drug categories such as heroin and certain opioids, the overall trend remains alarming. Notably, while the overdose death rate among females saw a decline for the first time in five years, rates among males continued to climb, constituting approximately 70% of all overdose deaths in the U.S.
Moreover, shifts in age demographics revealed a decrease in overdose deaths among younger individuals aged 15 to 34, juxtaposed with a rise among adults aged 35 and older, particularly those between 35 to 44 years old. Surprisingly, while older adults aged 65 and above exhibited the lowest rates in both 2021 and 2022, they experienced the highest percentage increase at 10.0% during this period.
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