CDC: Synthetic Opioid-Related Deaths Rose 72% In One Year

Mortality rates associated with synthetic opioids other than methadone increased 72% between 2014 and 2015 in the United States, while heroine-related mortality rose 21%, according to a new report from the CDC. Overall, drug overdose deaths nearly tripled between 1999 and 2014.

In order to further explore this “rapidly changing epidemic," the CDC examined data from the National Vital Statistics System on drug overdose death rates during 2010-2015 and opioid overdose deaths during 2014-2015 by subcategories.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Does Opioid Use Raise Mortality Risk in COPD Patients?
Opioids Linked to Greater Infection Risk in RA Patients
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The overall drug overdose death rate rose from 12.3 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 16.3 per 100,000 population in 2015, increasing in 30 states and Washington DC and remaining stable in 19 states. In 2015, 52,404 drug overdose-related deaths occurred, 33,091 of which involved an opioid. Death rates from natural/semisynthetic opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids other than methadone increased by 2.6%, 20.6%, and 72.2%, respectively. Methadone death rates decreased by 9.1%. Overdose deaths increased across demographics and geographic regions.

To address this increase, the CDC recommended implementation of their Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, improvement of access to prescription drug monitoring programs, enhancement of naloxone distribution, increasing of opioid use disorder treatment capacity, and support of law enforcement strategies to reduce illicit opioid supply.

“The ongoing epidemic of opioid deaths requires intense attention and action,” they concluded. “Continued improvements in guideline-recommended opioid prescribing practices for chronic pain, increased improving access to and use of prescription drug monitoring programs, and increased utilization of nonopioid pain treatments are needed. A multifaceted, coordinated approach between public health and public safety is also necessary to address the US opioid epidemic.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths—United States, 2010–2015 [published online December 16, 2016]. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1.