Terrible numbers. Drug overdose deaths much worse than predicted.

Written By Daniel Mazanec, MD, FACP & Polly Mazanec, RN, PhD

The CDC just released the most recent bulletin on drug overdose deaths in the U.S. reporting a nearly 30% increase above predicted numbers for the 12 months between December 2019 and December 2020. In three states, overdose deaths exceeded predictions by more than 50%. These devastating numbers are most likely driven by the impact of the pandemic as well as the huge influx of illegal fentanyl into the country.

The Top Ten: Worst Jurisdictions and Percentage above Predicted Overdose Deaths 

  1. Vermont: 57.6%

  2. Kentucky: 53.7%

  3. South Carolina: 51.9%

  4. West Virginia: 49.3%

  5. Louisiana: 47.6%

  6. California: 45.9%

  7. Tennessee: 44.1%

  8. Nebraska: 42.9%

  9. Arkansas: 41.9%

  10. District of Columbia: 39.2%

As a result, states such as SC are requiring prescribers to offer a prescription for naloxone, the emergency antidote for an opioid overdose,  to patients receiving certain doses of opioids.  It’s also mandated to offer a naloxone prescription to persons prescribed both an opioid and a benzodiazepine such as Ativan, Xanax, or Valium.

For more information, check out the CDC’s data on drug overdose’s.

Daniel Mazanec, MD, FACP & Polly Mazanec, RN, PhD
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