Health

States where the opioid crisis is growing the most

Written by:
Isabel Sepulveda
November 5, 2018
Canva

States where the opioid crisis is growing the most

At its peak in 1995, the HIV/AIDS crisis killed more than 40,000 Americans, and lives on in the country's memory as one of its most devastating public health crisis. America's opioid crisis will, too. In 2016, there were over 63,600 drug overdose deaths. Two-thirds were caused by opioids: either prescription painkillers like Oxycontin, or heroin or fentanyl. Millions more are estimated to be addicted.

Despite the Trump administration declaring it a public health emergency, the crisis still growing. The social stigma surrounding addiction makes it difficult for those struggling to seek treatment; it's estimated that in 2017, overdoses killed 72,000 Americans, with nearly 50,000 attributed to opioids.

Communities across the country have been devastated by this catastrophe and Stacker analyzed data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) to determine the states where it's growing the fastest. KFF used the National Vital Statistics system's multiple cause-of-death mortality files to determine which deaths were caused by drug overdoses, as they were classified using the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), and could be identified using ICD-10's underlying cause of death codes: X40–44 (unintentional), X60–64 (suicide), X85 (homicide), or Y10–Y14 (undetermined intent).

Death rates are deaths per 100,000 people, adjusted for age by applying death rates for different age ranges to the standard distribution of ages in the U.S. in 2000. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are ranked by highest percent change in opioid overdose death rate, with any ties broken by the highest overdose death rate.

Read through to see how your state has been impacted by this deadly crisis.

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#51. Nebraska

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -23%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 2.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -7%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 6.4 deaths

#50. Arkansas

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -18%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 5.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 1%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 14 deaths

#49. Montana

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -16%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 4.2 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -15%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.7 deaths

#48. Kansas

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -6%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 5.1 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -6%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.1 deaths

#47. Oregon

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -4%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.6 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -1%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.9 deaths

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#46. Nevada

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -4%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 13.3 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 6%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 21.7 deaths

#45. New Mexico

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: -2%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 17.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 0%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 25.2 deaths

#44. California

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 0%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 4.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -1%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.2 deaths

#43. Washington

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 1%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 9.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -1%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 14.5 deaths

#42. Utah

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 3%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -4%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 22.4 deaths

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#41. Texas

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 4%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 4.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 7%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 10.1 deaths

#40. Oklahoma

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 4%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.6 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 13%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 21.5 deaths

#39. Georgia

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 5%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 8.8 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 5%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 13.3 deaths

#38. Iowa

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 7%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 6.2 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 3%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 10.6 deaths

#37. Colorado

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 9%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 9.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 8%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.6 deaths

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#36. Wyoming

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 10%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 8.7 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 7%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 17.6 deaths

#35. Arizona

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 12%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 11.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 7%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 20.3 deaths

#34. Kentucky

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 12%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 23.6 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 12%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 33.5 deaths

#33. Tennessee

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 13%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.1 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 10%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 24.5 deaths

#32. Alaska

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 14.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 12.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 5%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.8 deaths

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#31. Delaware

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 14.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 40%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 30.8 deaths

#30. Rhode Island

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 14.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 26.7 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 9%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 30.8 deaths

#29. New Hampshire

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 14.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 35.8 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 14.%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 39 deaths

#28. South Carolina

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 15%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 13.1 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 15%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.1 deaths

#27. Mississippi

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 17%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 6.2 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: -2%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 12.1 deaths

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#26. Minnesota

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 19%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 18%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 12.5 deaths

#25. West Virginia

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 21%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 43.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 25%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 52 deaths

#24. Louisiana

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 22%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.7 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 15%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 21.8 deaths

#23. Idaho

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 23%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 7%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.2 deaths

#22. Alabama

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 23%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 3%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.2 deaths

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#21. Hawaii

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 27%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 5.2 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 13%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 12.8 deaths

#20. Massachusetts

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 27%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 29.7 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 28.%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 33 deaths

#19. Connecticut

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 28%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 24.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 24%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 27.4 deaths

#18. North Carolina

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 29.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 25%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 19.7 deaths

#17. Maine

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 31%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 25.2 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 35%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 28.7 deaths

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#16. Ohio

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 33%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 32.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 31%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 39.1 deaths

#15. Virginia

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 36%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 13.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 35%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16.7 deaths

#14. Missouri

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 36%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.9 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 32%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 23.6 deaths

#13. Michigan

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 36%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 20%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 24.4 deaths

#12. Vermont

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 37%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 33%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 22.2 deaths

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#11. New York

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 40%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.1 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 32%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18 deaths

#10. Wisconsin

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 41%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.8 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 25%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 19.3 deaths

#9. South Dakota

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 43%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 0%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 8.4 deaths

#8. Illinois

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 43%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 15.3 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 34%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.9 deaths

#7. Indiana

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 48%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 12.6 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 23%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 24 deaths

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#6. Florida

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 53%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 14.4 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 46%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 23.7 deaths

#5. North Dakota

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 58.%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 7.6 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 23%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 10.6 deaths

#4. New Jersey

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 63%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 16 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 42%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 23.2 deaths

#3. Pennsylvania

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 65%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 18.5 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 44%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 37.9 deaths

#2. Maryland

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 68%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 29.7 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 59%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 33.2 deaths

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#1. District of Columbia

Percent change in opioid overdose death rate from prior year: 107%
Opioid overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 30 deaths
Percent change in all drug overdose death rate from prior year: 109.%
All drug overdose death rate (age-adjusted, per 100,000 people): 38.8 deaths

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