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Opioid Overdose Mortality Data

CDC Heroin Overdose Data by Age, Sex, Geographic Region - 2000 - 2013

See 2013 - 2014 Data (New Dec 18, 2015)

 

Drug poisoning (overdose) is the number one cause of injury-related death in the United States, with 43,982 deaths occurring in 2013 (1). While much attention has been given to deaths involving opioid analgesics (2), in recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin. A recent study using data from 28 states reported that the death rate for heroin overdose doubled from 2010 through 2012 (3). Using data from the National Vital Statistics System, this data brief provides a description of trends and demographics for heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths in the United States from 2000 through 2013.

The latest national statistics on drug overdose deaths involving heroin, highlighting the substantial increase in death rates and the populations most at risk. From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin nearly quadrupled from 0.7 per 100,000 in 2000 to 2.7 per 100,000 in 2013. During this 14-year period, the age-adjusted rate showed an average increase of 6% per year from 2000 through 2010, followed by a larger average increase of 37% per year from 2010 through 2013

This report provides the latest national statistics on drug overdose deaths involving heroin, highlighting the substantial increase in death rates and the populations most at risk. From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin nearly quadrupled from 0.7 per 100,000 in 2000 to 2.7 per 100,000 in 2013. During this 14-year period, the age-adjusted rate showed an average increase of 6% per year from 2000 through 2010, followed by a larger average increase of 37% per year from 2010 through 2013.

Identifying populations at high risk of heroin-related drug-poisoning death can help target prevention strategies. The number of heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths among men was nearly four times higher than among women. Since 2000, the rates for drug-poisoning death involving heroin have increased for all age and race and ethnicity groups, with adults aged 25–44 having the highest rate. Heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths increased for all regions of the country from 2000 through 2013, with the greatest increase seen in the Midwest.


  From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin increased for all regions of the country, with the greatest increase seen in the Midwest.

The rate for heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths was highest among adults aged 25–44 from 2000 through 2013.

 
 

In 2000, age-adjusted rates for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin were higher in the Northeast and West regions (0.9 per 100,000) (Figure 5). In contrast, in 2013, the Midwest and Northeast regions had higher rates (4.3 and 3.9 per 100,000, respectively). From 2000 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate for heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths increased nearly 11-fold in the Midwest region (from 0.4 to 4.3 per 100,000), more than 4-fold in the Northeast region (from 0.9 to 3.9), more than 3-fold in the South region (from 0.5 to 1.7), and doubled in the West region (from 0.9 to 1.8).

Figure 5. Age-adjusted rates for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin, by census region: United States, 2000, 2007, and 2013

95% confidence interval.

Compared with adults aged 18–24 and 45–64, those aged 25–44 had the highest rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin (Figure 3). From 2000 through 2010, the average annual increase in the rates was 10% for adults aged 18–24, 5% for those aged 25–44, and 4% for those aged 45–64. From 2010 through 2013, the death rate for adults aged 18–24 increased 2.3-fold from 1.7 to 3.9 per 100,000, for those aged 25–44 the rate increased 2.8-fold from 1.9 to 5.4, and for those aged 45–64 the rate increased 2.7-fold from 1.1 to 3.0.

  In 2000, non-Hispanic black persons aged 45–64 had the highest rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin. In 2013, non-Hispanic white persons aged 18–44 had the highest rate. 

In 2013, the number of drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin was nearly four times higher for men than women.

   
 

In 2000, the highest rate for drug-poisoning deaths involving heroin was among non-Hispanic black persons aged 45–64 (2.0 per 100,000) (Figure 4). In contrast, in 2013, the rate was highest among non-Hispanic white persons aged 18–44 (7.0 per 100,000). From 2000 through 2013, rates increased for both age groups (18–44 and 45–64) and race and ethnicity groups (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic), with the largest increases seen among non-Hispanic white persons.

More men than women died from drug poisoning involving heroin (Figure 2). In 2013, the number of heroin-related drug-poisoning deaths for men (6,525 deaths) was nearly four times that for women (1,732 deaths). From 2010 through 2013, the age-adjusted rate increased from 1.6 to 4.2 per 100,000 for men and from 0.4 to 1.2 per 100,000 for women.

 SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Heroin Mortality by State 2012 -2014