Prescription Opioid Overdose Data

Opioid prescribing continues to fuel the epidemic. Today, nearly half of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.¹ In 2015, more than 15,000 people died from overdoses involving prescription opioids.

Most Commonly Overdosed Opioids

The most common drugs involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths include:

• Methadone
• Oxycodone (such as OxyContin®)
• Hydrocodone (such as Vicodin®)⁴

Overdose Deaths

Among those who died from prescription opioid overdose between 1999 and 2014:

• Overdose rates were highest among people aged 25 to 54 years.
• Overdose rates were higher among non-Hispanic whites and American Indian or Alaskan Natives, compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. 
• Men were more likely to die from overdose, but the mortality gap between men and women is closing.⁵

Additional Risks

Overdose is not the only risk related to prescription opioids. Misuse, abuse, and opioid use disorder (addiction) are also potential dangers.

• In 2014, almost 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids.⁶
• As many as 1 in 4 people who receive prescription opioids long term for noncancer pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction.⁷
• Every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids.⁸

Age-adjusted death rates for natural and semi-synthetic opioids are displayed above by census region for 2014 to 2015. Rates increased in the Northeast (9.1%) and South (4.8%), and in the United States overall (2.6%).² Deaths were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD–10). Drug overdose deaths were identified using underlying cause-of-death codes X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14. Drug overdose deaths were defined as having natural and semi-synthetic opioids (T40.2) as contributing causes. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 standard population.²

Age-adjusted death rates for methadone are displayed above by census region for 2014 to 2015. Rates decreased in the South, and in the United States overall, a statistically significant 9.1% decrease for both.² Deaths were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD–10). Drug overdose deaths are identified using underlying cause-of-death codes X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14. Drug overdose deaths were defined as having methadone (T40.3) as a contributing cause. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 standard population.²