Opioid epidemic in the United States

Drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 U.S. citizens in 2017, a record number showing a rise of around 10 percent. The toll is higher than the peak year deaths from HIV, car crashes or gun fatalities


DRUGS INVOLVED IN U.S. OVERDOSE DEATHS, 1999-2017

Fentanyls: Family of synthetic opioids is major culprit in rising death toll. Can be very strong and overdose
is common. Often cut with heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine

Synthetic opioids other than Methadone
29,406

Heroin
15,958

Natural and semi-synthetic opioids
14,958

Cocaine
14,556

Methamphetamine
10,721

Methadone
3,295

30(000s)
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
 

Sources: CDC, National Institute on Drug Abuse, The New York Times, Talk to Frank 
Picture: Streetdrugs.org
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