87 Drug-Related Deaths: How Many People Died From Drugs?

Top 10 Drug-Related Deaths Statistics

In 2019, approximately 70,630 drug overdose deaths were reported in the United States.
Opioids were involved in 49,860 overdose deaths in the United States in 2019, accounting for nearly 72% of all drug overdose deaths.
The number of drug overdose deaths in the United States involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (such as fentanyl) increased from 14,996 in 2018 to 36,509 in 2019.
In the United Kingdom, drug-related deaths increased by 16% from 2017 to 2018, with 4,359 deaths recorded in 2018.
In Canada, there were 14,031 opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and September 2019.
In Australia, there were 1,740 drug-induced deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly identified drug type at the time of death.
The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland increased by 6% from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019.
In 2019, there were 2,883 drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales, the highest number since records began in 1993.
In 2018, there were 9,614 drug overdose deaths involving cocaine in the United States, a 5-fold increase from 2012.
In 2019, there were 1,286 drug-related deaths in Ireland, with almost two-thirds of deaths involving opioids.

75 percent of the nearly 92,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid

Drug-Related Deaths Statistics Worldwide

In France, drug-related deaths increased by 12% from 2017 to 2018, with 1,200 deaths recorded in 2018.
In Germany, there were 1,276 drug-related deaths in 2019, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Italy, there were 1,406 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Spain, there were 3,417 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Portugal, there were 27.9 drug overdose deaths per million population in 2018, one of the highest rates in Europe.
In Greece, there were 7.7 drug overdose deaths per million population in 2018, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
In Mexico, there were 33,341 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Brazil, there were 47,782 drug-related deaths in 2019, with cocaine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Colombia, there were 6,501 drug-related deaths in 2019, with cocaine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Russia, there were 18,375 drug overdose deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In India, there were 53,940 drug-related deaths in 2019, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Japan, there were 3,460 drug overdose deaths in 2018, with methamphetamine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Thailand, there were 4,515 drug-related deaths in 2019, with methamphetamine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In the Philippines, there were 5,050 drug-related deaths between July 2016 and November 2018, according to government data.
In Indonesia, there were 8,623 drug-related deaths between January 2015 and October 2018, according to government data.
In Malaysia, there were 2,776 drug overdose deaths between January 2017 and May 2020, with methamphetamine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Singapore, there were 41 drug overdose deaths in 2019, with methamphetamine being the most commonly involved drug type.
In South Africa, there were 14,969 drug overdose deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Nigeria, there were 2,466 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Egypt, there were 4,000 drug-related deaths in 2018, with tramadol being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Saudi Arabia, there were 1,144 drug overdose deaths in 2017, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In the United Arab Emirates, there were 360 drug overdose deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Israel, there were 313 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In New Zealand, there were 507 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Fiji, there were 32 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Papua New Guinea, there were 233 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Vanuatu, there were 5 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Samoa, there were 6 drug-related deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Tonga, there were 3 drug overdose deaths in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In the Cook Islands, there were 1 drug-related death in 2018, with opioids being the most commonly involved drug type.
In Kiribati, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Micronesia, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Nauru, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Palau, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In the Solomon Islands, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Tuvalu, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Niue, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Marshall Islands, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In American Samoa, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.
In Guam, there were no drug-related deaths reported in 2018.

The Drug Overdose Toll in 2020 and Near-Term Actions for Addressing It | Commonwealth Fund

Drug-Related Deaths by State

In 2020, the state with the highest drug overdose death rate in the United States was West Virginia, with a rate of 52.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
Other states with high drug overdose death rates include Delaware (43.8), Maryland (37.9), Pennsylvania (35.4), and Ohio (34.6).
Some states have seen significant increases in drug overdose death rates in recent years, including South Carolina (29.1% increase from 2019 to 2020), Louisiana (29% increase from 2019 to 2020), and Kentucky (28.7% increase from 2019 to 2020).
However, some states have reported decreases in drug overdose death rates, such as Wyoming (-20% decrease from 2019 to 2020) and North Dakota (-12% decrease from 2019 to 2020).
It's worth noting that drug overdose death rates can vary widely within a state, with certain counties or cities experiencing much higher rates than others.
In order to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce drug-related deaths, many states have implemented various strategies such as expanding access to naloxone (a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses), increasing funding for addiction treatment programs, and cracking down on illegal drug trafficking.

Drug-Related Deaths by Age

Drug-related deaths in the United States are highest among young adults aged 25-34, with a rate of 37.4 deaths per 100,000 population.
The age group with the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. is 35-44 years old, with a rate of 33.3 deaths per 100,000 population.
Individuals aged 45-54 have the third-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S., with a rate of 29.5 deaths per 100,000 population.
The age group with the fourth-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. is 55-64 years old, with a rate of 23.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
The lowest rates of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are among those aged 15-24 and those over age 65, with rates of 13.7 and 11.8 deaths per 100,000 population respectively.
In Canada, individuals aged between 30 and 39 accounted for almost one-third (31%) of opioid-related deaths between January and September in 2019.
In Australia, people aged between 30 and 49 accounted for more than three-quarters (78%) of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2018.
In England and Wales, there were higher mortality rates from drug misuse among older age groups; specifically males aged between ages 40 to 49 had significantly higher rates than any other age group at nearly four times the average for all adult males at 102.0 deaths per million population.

Grouped Bar Graph: Drug Overdose Deaths Among Age Groups per 100,000 Residents on NCDAS

Drug-Related Deaths by Gender

In the United States, males have a higher rate of drug overdose deaths than females, accounting for 67.5% of all drug overdose deaths in 2019.
Similarly, in Canada, males accounted for approximately three-quarters (75%) of opioid-related deaths between January and September in 2019.
In Australia, males accounted for almost two-thirds (64%) of drug-induced deaths in 2018.
In England and Wales, there were significantly higher mortality rates from drug misuse among males than females. Specifically, the mortality rate was nearly three times higher for males than females at 87.4 and 30.6 deaths per million population respectively.
In Germany, males accounted for almost two-thirds (65%) of drug-related deaths in 2019.
In Italy, males accounted for more than half (54%) of drug-related deaths in 2018.
In Spain, males accounted for approximately three-quarters (76%) of drug-related deaths in 2018.
In Mexico, males accounted for more than half (55%) of drug-related deaths in 2018.
In Brazil, males accounted for more than two-thirds (68%) of drug-related deaths in 2019.
In Colombia, males accounted for approximately two-thirds (66%) of drug-related deaths in 2019.
In Russia, males accounted for almost four-fifths (79%) of all drug overdose deaths in 2018.
In India, males accounted for more than three-quarters (78%) of all drug-related deaths in 2019.

Drug-Related Deaths by Ethnicity

In the United States, drug-related deaths disproportionately affect non-Hispanic white individuals, who accounted for 69.3% of all drug overdose deaths in 2019.
When looking specifically at opioid-involved deaths in the U.S., non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest rate of death with a rate of 19.5 deaths per 100,000 population in 2019.
In Canada, Indigenous people are overrepresented in opioid-related deaths and accounted for 16% of all opioid-related deaths between January and September in 2019 despite making up only 5% of the population.
In Australia, Indigenous Australians were more likely to die from drug-induced causes than non-Indigenous Australians with a mortality rate that was almost twice as high.
In England and Wales, there were higher mortality rates from drug misuse among White ethnic groups; specifically males from White ethnic groups had significantly higher rates than any other ethnic group at nearly four times the average for all adult males at 90.0 deaths per million population.

Products - Data Briefs - Number 457 - December 2022

Most Commonly Used Drugs

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug worldwide, with an estimated 188 million people using it in 2017, accounting for 3.8% of the global population.
Opioids are among the most commonly used drugs globally, with an estimated 53 million people using them in 2017, accounting for 1% of the global population.
Cocaine use is on the rise globally, with an estimated 18 million people using it in 2017, accounting for 0.4% of the global population.
Amphetamines are another commonly used drug worldwide, with an estimated 37 million people using them in 2017, accounting for 0.8% of the global population.
Ecstasy (MDMA) use has been increasing globally since the early 2000s and was estimated to be used by around 21 million people in 2017, accounting for 0.4% of the global population.
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed medications and are also commonly used recreationally. An estimated 17 million people used benzodiazepines non-medically in 2017, accounting for around one-third of all prescription drug misuse globally.
Methamphetamine use is highest in Asia and North America; an estimated 26 million people used methamphetamine in 2017, accounting for around half of all amphetamine-type stimulant use worldwide.

FAQs

How are drug-related deaths defined?

Drug-related deaths are deaths that are directly or indirectly caused by drug use. This can include overdose, complications from drug use, and other drug-related health issues.