U.S. fentanyl overdose deaths soar

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid vastly more potent than morphine, is linked to two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths in the United States, as a “fourth wave” grips the nation


OVERDOSE MORTALITY
(deaths per 100,000 people)

OVERDOSE DEATHS WITH OR WITHOUT FENTANYL (% share)

2021	2011

16 	78	Overdose with no fentanyl or stimulants
18 	16	Stimulants without fentanyl
32 		Fentanyl with stimulants
34 	6	Fentanyl without stimulants

Fentanyl can be swallowed, snorted or injected

11  
10 
9 
8
7 
6 
5 
4 
3 
2 
1 
0
	2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
  
WAVE 1 
2000: Rise in prescribed opioids

WAVE 2
2010: Rise in heroin without stimulants

WAVE 3
2013: Rise in fentanyl without stimulants

WAVE 4 2015: Rise in fentanyl with stimulants

Increase in fentanyl deaths attributed to drug being mixed with other stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, to produce longer highs


Sources: BBC, Wiley Online Library 
Picture: Diana Polekhina (Unsplash) 
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