A new study has found the states with the highest number of fatal opioid overdoses per 100,000 residents, with Washington the sixth worst affected state.
Research conducted by personal injury attorneys at Siegfried & Jensen gathered data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the total number of opioid-related fatalities, drug-related casualties, and overall loss of life by state in 2023 to determine the number of opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents in each state.
1. West Virginia – 70.4 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people
In 2023, the state experienced 1,246 opioid fatalities out of a total of 1,488 drug casualties. According to Bloomberg American Health Initiative’s study ‘Rural Communities in Crisis,’ states like West Virginia with large rural, isolated areas are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to addiction treatment centers and limited funding allocated to life-saving resources and services.
2. Delaware – 45.1 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people
The state saw 465 opioid deaths from a total of 521 drug-related fatalities in 2023. Delaware’s central location along major drug trafficking routes contributes to the state’s ongoing struggles with opioid misuse, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center.
3. Alaska – 42.1 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people The state witnessed 309 opioid fatalities in 2023 out of a total of 393 drug-related casualties. The ‘Rural Communities in Crisis’ study by Bloomberg American Health Initiative would suggest that Alaska’s remote areas will face limited healthcare access, complicating efforts to combat opioid misuse and provide effective treatment.
4. Tennessee – 41.7 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people
The state reported 2,973 opioid fatalities in 2023, which was 83% of all total drug deaths (3,573). This reflects how deeply entrenched the opioid crisis is within Tennessee, which has the dual challenge of addressing opioid misuse in both urban and rural settings.
5. Maine – 37.3 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people
Out of 593 total drug casualties, 521 were opioid-related in 2023, which is 88% of all drug deaths. According to the Maine Drug Data Hub, the economic challenges faced by Maine’s rural communities have exacerbated the opioid crisis, making access to treatment and prevention programs even more critical.
6. Washington – 37.2 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 people
In 2023, the state recorded 2,906 opioid overdose losses out of a total of 3,566 drug fatalities (81%). The state’s opioid crisis is most prominent in both rural areas and major cities like Seattle, where fentanyl and synthetic opioids have caused a sharp increase in overdose deaths, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
7. Vermont – 36.8 opioid deaths per 100,000 people
There were 238 opioid drug casualties out of a total of 266 drug losses in 2023 (89%), highlighting how Vermont’s isolation and limited healthcare infrastructure in rural locations make it difficult to implement effective addiction treatment and prevention programs, according to the Vermont Department of Health.
8. Kentucky – 36.7 opioid deaths per 100,000 people
1,663 opioid-related losses of life were recorded in 2023 out of a total of 2,021 drug casualties (82%). The widespread availability of prescription painkillers in the state’s past has fueled the opioid crisis, leaving many Kentuckians vulnerable to addiction, as documented by the National Institutes of Health.
9. Maryland – 36.4 deaths per 100,000 people
The state saw 2,247 opioid mortalities in 2023, and a total of 2,499 drug fatalities, meaning that 90% of drug-related deaths were due to opioids. Baltimore has been hard hit by the crisis, with fentanyl playing a significant role in the increase in overdose losses of life, as suggested by Bloomberg American Health Initiative: Baltimore and the Overdose Epidemic.
10. New Mexico – 35.5 opioid deaths per 100,000 people
In 2023, the state suffered 751 opioid demises and a total of 1,067 drug casualties – this makes opioid deaths 70% of all drug-related deaths. According to the Rural health for New Mexico Overview, New Mexico’s geographic isolation means its population faces barriers in accessing addiction treatment and support services, making the opioid crisis particularly challenging to address in rural and underserved areas.
SOURCE: http://siegfriedandjensen.com/
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
