United States: There are some regions in America where the deaths rate is increasing due to the drug overdose and some areas where the number of people in Minnesota who died from drug overdoses went down by 8%. In 2022, there were almost 1,384 deaths, and in the year 2023, that number dropped to the number 1,274. This is a good sign because it might be the first time since 2018 that fewer people died from overdoses in Minnesota.
District One the rest of Minnesota reported a decline in overdose deaths by 21 percent from 482 to 381. Seven-county metro again had 1% more decrease from 902 to 893 deaths.
Overdoses with opioids other than heroin (like fentanyl) are non fatal and presented an 11% rise from 4,328 to 4,819.
As reported by mn department of health,“We have talked about decrease in opioid deaths but increase in non fatal overdoses partly caused by wider use of naloxone, words of Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. The Bullock group is aware, far from it, that it’s work is not over yet, and that it cannot leave the path it has tread. Each and every death from overdose is one too many and we will remain steadfast in our efforts to work with partners across the state to identify other measures that will help to save more lives.
“This is positive but not the end of the story” stated Jeremy Drucker the director of addiction and recovery. “The state and its partners stay committed to sustaining the effort to keep every Minnesotan healthy and protected.”
Total overdose deaths remained relatively unchanged or slightly increased, during the period between 2021 and 2022, an upward trend than the preliminary numbers which suggested a decline in this sector. These numbers are estimates and might change to a higher number when final, because they do not capture Minnesotans who possibly died from an overdose in another state.
Overdose fatalities – About 70% of the victims, the substances that were found to have caused fatal overdoses included synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl. However, the number of opioid-involved death in the state was also decreased by 8% for the year 2023 comparing to 2022(1031 to 947 death) according to the preliminary data.
Almost all the cases in this category are believed to be caused by illicitly produced fentanyl. However other categories of opioids such as prescription opioids, heroin and methadone also remained to drop in deaths.
In the early return of data for 2023, Minnesota, which speaks for the country.
The CDC reports a nationwide 3 percent decrease in all the overdose deaths from the 2022 to the year 2023. While opioid-involved deaths went down in 2023 deaths from the psychostimulant category which includes methamphetamine, continued a 10 year upward trend with the meth deaths increasing 4 percent 516 to the 538 deaths and cocaine 11 percent 219 to 242 deaths.