Drug overdose death rates in the U.S. remained high in 2022, with disparities among racial and ethnic groups, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was 32.4 per 100,000 standard population in 2022, a slight decrease from 32.8 in 2021. However, rates varied significantly by race and ethnicity. In 2022, the highest rate was among American Indian and Alaska Native people at 56.6 deaths per 100,000, followed by Black people (44.3), White people (32.6), Hispanic people (21.6), and Asian people (5.6).
Misclassification of race and Hispanic origin on death certificates results in underestimation of death rates by as much as 34% for American Indian and Alaska Native people and 3% for Asian and Hispanic people, according to the report authored by NCHS researchers Matthew Spencer, Merianne Garnett, and Arialdi Miniño.
The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and improved data collection to address the ongoing overdose crisis and persistent health disparities in the United States.
“Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2002–2022” (March 21, 2024)
