About Opioid Overdose

Overdose Deaths – A National and World Epidemic

190,000 people worldwide die from drugs-related deaths, predominantly related to opioid overdose.

Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury-related deaths, greater than car accidents and homicide
Opioids—prescription pain relievers, heroin and synthetic opioid fentanyl—are the main driver of overdose deaths
63,600 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016
Opioids account for more than 66% of all overdose deaths – killing more than 42,000 people in 2016

Sources: SAMSHA 2014 National Survey on Drug Use, CDC Drug Overdose Data, and Health and the World Drug Report 2015

Opioids Represent 66% of All Overdose Deaths

Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Killing more people than car accidents and guns – more than 63,600 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. In fact overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans under 50.

Of the 63,600 reported overdose deaths – Opioids killed 42,249 people in 2016 – representing 66% of all overdose deaths. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that opioid overdose deaths are under-reported. One fifth to one quarter of death certificates do not identify a specific drug. This results in underestimating the involved drug and additional errors when measuring rates across time.

Provisional data for 2017 from the CDC show no signs of the epidemic slowing down, with an estimate of more than 66,000 overdose deaths for the year with more state reporting due.

Source: CDC www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/

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CDC 2000-2016 data illustrates two distinct trends driving America’s opioid overdose epidemic: a 16-year increase in deaths from prescription opioid overdoses, and a recent surge in illicit opioid overdoses driven mainly by heroin and illegally-made fentanyl. Both of these trends continued in 2016.

Source: CDC www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/

Nearly half of all overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids were five times higher in 2016 than 1999. From 1999 to 2016, more than 200,000 people have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids.

Each day more than 1000 people are treated in ER’s for not using prescription opioids as directed.

Every State in the Nation is Affected

CDC 2016 state data shows the overdose age-adjusted rates for a view across America. The darker the red, the greater the overdose death rate. BubHugs’ home state of Nevada is ranked 23rd in the nation for overdose deaths (21.7 per 100,000). In 2016, the five states with the highest rates of death due to drug overdose were West Virginia (52.0 per 100,000), Ohio (39.1 per 100,000), New Hampshire (39.0 per 100,000), Pennsylvania (37.9 per 100,000) and (Kentucky (33.5 per 100,000)

We recommend that you visit the CDC State Overdose Death Rate Data website to review how your state compares nationally.

in 2016, 144 Americans died every day from an opioid overdose that includes prescription opioids and heroin. This is up 58% from 2015 (91 daily deaths).

U.S. State and County Level View 1999 – 2016

View drug overdose/poisoning deaths at the national, state, and county levels, sourced from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS): Data Visualization Gallery HERE

How to Use
If you would like to see other state’s information, hover over the map and select a State to see county-level trend data for 1999-2016. Through the tool (bottom right) other options include: view in full screen, download image or PDF, or share.

How to Use
Use the tool filters/selection to specific age, gender or race. Through the tool (bottom right) other options include: view in full screen, download image or PDF, or share.

Symptoms of opioid overdose

Opioid overdose is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency attention. When a person is overdosing from an opioid, their central nervous system and respiration system is depressed and breathing slows or stops. Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose is essential to saving lives.

Call 911 immediately if a person exhibits any of these symptoms:

Their face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch
Their body goes limp
Their fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color
They start vomiting or making gurgling noises
They cannot be awakened or are unable to speak
Their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops

Source: SAMHSA.gov

Call 911 – Get Help

Naloxone, opioid overdose reversal drug

Naloxone is an opiate antidote. Opioids include heroin and prescription pain pills like OxyContin, Percocet, Methadone, and Vicodin. When a person is overdosing from an opioid, their central nervous system is depressed and breathing slows or stops. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids and reverses the effects of an overdose. It cannot be used to get a person high. If given to one who has not taken opioids, it will not have any affect them, since there is no opioids in their system to reverse.

How do you get naloxone?

You can get Naloxone from any pharmacy in Nevada without a prescription. It may even be covered by certain insurance companies. Ask you pharmacist. Please refer to the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Law – SB459 if you have any questions