Overdose Death Rates Involving Opioids, by Type, United States, 1999-2020
(Deaths per 100,000 people)
Note: Deaths are 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. The following multiple cause of death codes were used to identify specific drug types: T40.2 for natural and semi-synthetic opioid analgesics, T40.3 for methadone, T40.4 for synthetic opioid analgesics excluding methadone, T40.1 for heroin, and T40.0, T40.1, T40.2, T40.3, T40.4 or T40.6 for any opioid, and T40.2, T40.3 for prescription opioids. Approximately one-fifth of drug poisoning deaths lack information on the specific drugs involved. Some of these deaths may involve opioid analgesics or heroin. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 standard population.
Source: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.
