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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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
