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Publication
PRESENTATION: Trends and Patterns in Fatal Drug Overdoses Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
SHADAC Senior Research Fellow Colin Planalp presented at the APHA Annual Meeting in October 2024. In this presentation, Mr. Planalp reviews trends and patterns in fatal drug overdoses since the COVID-19 pandemic, including the increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths, which significantly increased from 11.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 to 22.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Click the image below to view the slides from this presentation in a PDF format. If you would like to view the presentation in a different format, please contact us.
Are you interested in learning more about the opioid epidemic? You can view all of our latest opioid crisis resources on our Opioid Epidemic in the United States page.
Publication
Changing Dynamics in the Opioid Crisis Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Soaring rates of fatal fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine overdoses have worsened and spread to previously insulated groups, including teenagers and the elderly
It has been more than a decade since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared a national opioid “epidemic,” also known as the opioid crisis. In that time, hundreds of thousands of people have died, with the impact rippling out amongst friends, family, and communities: One in three U.S. adults know someone who has died of an overdose.1
Despite knowledge of this crisis and efforts to reduce fatal overdoses and impacts of substance use disorder, we have seen the opioid epidemic continually worsen and evolve. Evidence suggests that increased regulations on prescription opioids pushed many to illicit alternatives.2 The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a huge increase in overdose deaths. Fentanyl, a once lesser-known contributor to the epidemic, has skyrocketed in its impact. Once insulated groups, like adolescents and the elderly, have seen overdose rates rise.
In this new brief from SHADAC, we examine changes in drug overdose death rates, and the types of drugs that cause these fatal overdoses, during the pandemic period (2019-2022). We also look at the history of the opioid epidemic: its beginnings, factors that influenced its evolution, and what it looks like now.
With this brief focusing on the four most common causes of drug overdoses — fentanyl, prescription opioids, methamphetamine, and cocaine — just some of the findings from this pandemic period include:
- Fatal overdoses from fentanyl increased 99%
- Fatal overdoses from methamphetamine increased 108%, and
- Fatal overdoses from cocaine increased 69%
While overdose death rates generally increased across all the measured racial and ethnic groups, “we […] found evidence of dramatic and growing disparities across racial and ethnic groups in rates of fatal overdoses, with the crisis increasingly harming American Indian and Alaska Native people and Black people during the pandemic era,” lead author and Senior Researcher Colin Planalp says.
In this brief, we explore these findings and more, including looking deeper at the impacts of the opioid crisis on different communities, demographics, and states. Click here to read the brief in full. The appendix for this piece is available here.
[1] Kennedy-Hendricks, A., Ettman, C. K., Gollust, S. E., Bandara, S. N., Abdalla, S. M., Castrucci, B. C., & Galea, S. (2024). Experience of Personal Loss Due to Drug Overdose Among US Adults. JAMA health forum, 5(5), e241262. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38819798/
[2] Pitt, A.L., Humphreys, K., & Brandeau, M.L. (2018). Modeling Health Benefits and Harms of Public Policy Responses to the US Opioid Epidemic. American Journal of Public Health, 108(10), 1394-1400. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304590
Blog & News
Telehealth Visit Data, ACEs Data, Opioid Sales, and More Updated on State Health Compare
June 06, 2024:National Survey of Children’s Health Data (NSCH)
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur during childhood, and include physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, amongst others. These experiences can have long-term impacts on health and wellness long after childhood.National Health Interview Survey Data (NHIS)
Made Changes to Medical Drugs (NHIS)
‘Made Changes to Medical Drugs’ is defined as the rate of individuals who made changes to medical drugs because of cost during the past twelve months by age for the civilian non-institutionalized population. Asking a medical provider to switch to a cheaper medication, taking less medication than prescribed, skipping dosages, using alternative therapies as a replacement, and delaying refills are all examples of how someone could make changes to medical drugs due to cost. Making changes such as these can have negative impacts on both short- and long-term health.Trouble Paying Medical Bills (NHIS)
This measure tracks the percentage of people who had trouble paying off their medical bills in the last year. Like the ‘Made Changes to Medical Drugs’ measure, this can help understand and track health care affordability in the United States. This is especially relevant as the United States has some of the highest health care costs in the world.Had Emergency Department Visit (NHIS)
Visits to the Emergency Department (ED) (also called the Emergency Room) are often costly and, in a surprisingly large number of cases, preventable. It’s estimated that between 13% and 27% of ED visits could be managed in primary care offices, clinics, and/or urgent care centers. Had Telehealth Visit (NHIS)
Telehealth, also called telemedicine, can expand access to care for many individuals and communities. Telehealth services conducted by phone or by video allow individuals to be connected with a health professional when they cannot get an in-person appointment, cannot safely leave their home, or lack transportation to get to an appointment, among a number of other reasons. Access to telehealth was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained a popular way to access care.Had Usual Source of Medical Care (NHIS)
When individuals do not have a usual source of medical care, health outcomes can be affected. For example, individuals may not seek care when they have a medical issue, which can result in delayed diagnosis of disease, worsening health conditions, etc. Lacking a usual source of care also means that people may miss out on preventative services and/or recommended screenings (like cancer screenings). They may also seek care in an Emergency Department, which we discussed earlier as being more costly and inefficient for both patients and health professionals.Had General Doctor or Provider Visit (NHIS)
Utilization of health care services with a general doctor or provider is an important health-related behavior – seeing a general doctor allows individuals to obtain information about their health status, receive preventative services & screenings, maintain (or improve) their health and well-being, and respond to health problems with guidance from a professional health care provider. Seeing a provider can also form a relationship between patient and doctor/provider, where the doctor knows and monitors the patient over time.Drug Enforcement Administration ARCOS Data
Sales of Opioid Painkillers
The Opioid Epidemic in the United States is widespread and destructive - since 2000, the annual number of overdose deaths from any kind of drug in the U.S. has multiplied nearly six times over, rising from 17,500 to over 106,000 people in 2021. Opioids caused a majority of these deaths, including both legal drugs and illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl.Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Rate
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in the United States peaked at 14.8% in April 2020, which is the highest unemployment rate since 1948 (when unemployment data collection first began). Stay Up to Date with the Latest Data
Other Related Reading:
Publication
Public Health Implications of Cannabis Policy in Minnesota
This brief uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to understand issues related to public health implications of Minnesota cannabis use prior to its 2023 legalization. Along with providing key background information and context on cannabis policy in the United States, this brief specifically examines three oft cited concerns with cannabis legalization:
- The prevalence of cannabis use
- Cannabis abuse and dependence (i.e., addiction)
- Driving under the influence of cannabis
Researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) and Cannabis Research Center (CRC) present data related to these commonly cited concerns from Minnesota, from other states, and from the United States as a whole. Where available and appropriate, estimates for alcohol are also presented for comparison as it is a legal and commonly used psychoactive substance that, like cannabis, entails a range of risks to public health.
The data in this brief are intended to serve as starting points for discussions on the public health impacts of Minnesota cannabis policy. Ultimately, there will be a great need for research into the rapidly evolving cannabis policy landscape and potentially refinements in policy to maximize benefits and minimize harms.
“The implications of cannabis legalization on public health also depend on the risks and benefits associated with cannabis use, which remain areas of uncertainty that warrant further study,” says SHADAC and CRC Researcher Colin Planalp. “It will be crucial for researchers and policymakers to monitor these and other issues into the future.”
- SHADAC blog accompanying this brief - “SHADAC and CRC brief provides pre-legalization data on Minnesota’s cannabis landscape”
- Brief on the United States Opioid Crisis – “Opioid Crisis in the Pandemic Era”
- Explore data on the topic of substance use, alcohol-involved deaths, and more on State Health Compare
Blog & News
SHADAC and CRC Brief Provides Pre-Legalization Data on Minnesota’s Cannabis Landscape
January 30, 2024:- Prevalence of cannabis use (in both adults and youth)
- Rates of symptoms of cannabis abuse and dependence, also commonly called cannabis use disorder or addiction
- Self-reported incidence of driving under the influence of cannabis
Ultimately, the data returned findings that may be useful in better understanding Minnesota’s cannabis landscape prior to legalization and offer a starting point for understanding where we may be headed.
