• January 8, 2022
  • Posted by: Keith Graves
  • Category: Drug Trends
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An NPR report on the CDC’s provisional drug overdose counts and recent data brief reveals that “Deaths due to drug overdose have topped a million for the first time since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collecting data on the problem over two decades ago.” According to the CDC NCHS data, there were approximately 932,364 drug overdose deaths from 1999 through 2020 and approximately 100,000 deaths in the 12-month period ending May 2021.

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A Look at the Stats on Drug Overdose Deaths

A recently released Data Brief from NCHS provides the results of a review of drug overdose deaths from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose death rates in all groups aged 15 and older and all race and Hispanic-origin groups were higher in 2020 than 2019. Specific key findings include:

  • The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths increased 31% from 2019 (21.6 per 100,000 standard population) to 2020 (28.3).
  • Among adults aged 35–44, the age group with the highest rates, drug overdose deaths increased 33% from 2019 (40.5) to 2020 (53.9).
  • Since 2016, rates of drug overdose deaths involving opioids have been highest for deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone.
  • The rate of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (such as fentanyl) increased 56%, from 11.4 in 2019 to 17.8 in 2020.
  • The rise in the age-adjusted rates of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants with abuse potential that began in 2012 continued through 2020.
  • From 2019 to 2020, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine increased 22%, from 4.9 to 6.0, and the rate of drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential (such as methamphetamine) increased 50%, from 5.0 to 7.5.


Author: Keith Graves
Keith is a retired Police Sergeant, working his entire 29 year career in the San Francisco Bay Area. Keith is a recipient of the prestigious California’s Narcotics Officer of the Year Award and is a prior winner of MADD’s California Hero Award. He has years of experience as a Narcotics Detective and a Narcotics Unit Supervisor and is a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor (IACP #3292). Keith has developed several courses for the Department of Defense, California Narcotics Officers Association, and California POST, and numerous police agencies and private corporations. Keith has held other assignments besides narcotics including Training Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, COPPS Officer, Traffic Officer, and 20 years as a SWAT Team member and Sniper Team Leader. Keith has taught thousands of officers and businesses around the world about drug use, drug trends, compliance training and drug investigations. Keith is also the founder of Christian Warrior Training, where he provides free resources and training to church security ministries. He is recognized as an international drug expert and has testified as an expert in court proceedings on drug cases, homicide cases and rape prosecutions. Keith earned a BA in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College of California and a MA in Criminal Justice. Keith is the Founder and President of Graves & Associates, a company dedicated to providing drug training to law enforcement, the Department of Defense, and private industry internationally. You can follow Keith on social media on Facebook (DopeCop and DrugEnforcementCops), twitter (DopeCop) and Instagram (DrugEnforcementCops).

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