U.S. opioid deaths top car crash fatalities 

For the first time, the chances of dying from an accidental opioid overdose in the U.S. are higher than being killed in a car accident


LIFETIME ODDS OF DYING (selected causes, 2017)

Motorcyclist				1 in 858
Pedestrian incident			1 in 556
Gun assault				1 in 285
Fall					1 in 114
Motor vehicle crash			1 in 103
Opioid overdose				1 in 96
Suicide					1 in 88
Chronic lower respiratory disease	1 in 27
Cancer					1 in 7
Heart disease				1 in 6

More than 115 people die each day from opioid overdoses

OPIOID-INVOLVED DRUG POISONING DEATHS (’000s, 1999-2015)

Drug poisoning deaths involving opioids, including heroin/synthetic opioids

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
	1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015


Sources: National Safety Council, UPI, NIDA, SSA 
Picture: Associated Press 
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