What Is the Worst State for Overdose Deaths
Overdoses throughout the United States have been on a steady increase for years. Recently CBS came out with a list of all the states in order from the least overdose-prone to the most. The statistics are taken from overdose deaths per 100,000 residents.
51. Nebraska
2.4 per 100,000 people
President Trump made a trip to Nebraska to congratulate the state troopers on their superb job of saving lives from the opiate epidemic.
50. Montana
4.2 per 100,000 people
In 2016, 42 deaths were reported due to a drug overdose. This is the lowest rate in the state in over ten years. Half of all the deaths were related to prescription opioids and nearly half of them were synthetic opiates.
49. California
4.9 per 100,000 people
2,012 deaths occurred in 2,016 from opioid-related overdoses. Even though the rate of overdose deaths has remained around the same since 2012, the amount caused by synthetic opiates has escalated over the last several years.
48. Texas
4.9 per 100,000 people
1,375 opioid-related deaths occurred in Texas in 2016. The number of overdose deaths has steadily risen since 2010 with deaths from fentanyl rising over this same time period.
47. South Dakota
5 per 100,000 people
42 people died of drug overdose in the state during 2016. It ranks higher on the list due to the difference in population between the states. The population in South Dakota is lower so 42 deaths account for a higher percentage.
46. Kansas
5.1 per 100,000 people
In 2106, Kansas had 146 opioid-related overdose deaths. The number of prescription pain killer and synthetic opioid deaths has decreased but the number of heroin-related deaths has increased.
45. Hawaii
5.2 per 100,000 people
There were 77 opioid-related deaths in Hawaii during 2016.
44. Arkansas
5.9 per 100,000 people
169 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in Arkansas during 2016.
43. Iowa
6.2 per 100,000 people
There were 183 opioid-related deaths in Iowa. The number of deaths attributed to heroin overdose has increased from14 to 47 since 2012. During the same time, deaths from synthetic opioids also increased.
42. Mississippi
6.2 per 100,000 people
There were 180 deaths from opioid overdose with a rate of 6.2 per 100,000 people. Mississippi saw an increase in overdose deaths from pain pills, heroin, and fentanyl over the three years leading up to 2016.
41. Idaho
7.4 per 100,000 people
119 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in Idaho during 2016. Drug overdose deaths from all opioids have increased in Idaho over the last 4 years.
40. Minnesota
7.4 per 100,000 people
Minnesota is focusing on clean needle exchange at homeless camps.
39. Alabama
7.5 per 100,000 people
343 people died from an opioid-related overdose in 2016. With almost an equal amount of deaths caused by opioid prescription drugs, synthetic opioids like fentanyl and heroin.
38. North Dakota
7.6 per 100,000 people
54 drug overdoses occurred in North Dakota in 2016.
37. Oregon
7.6 per 100,000 people
In 2016, 312 people died due to opioid-related deaths. The number of deaths in Oregon from drug overdoses has remained relatively unchanged since 2013.
36. Louisiana
7.7 per 100,000 people
346 people died from opioid-related deaths in 2016. The main contributor to deaths in the state since 2012 has been prescription opioids, though this has changed over the last year with more deaths being caused by heroin and synthetic opioids.
35. Wyoming
8.7 per 100,000 people
The Indian communities are working to bring drug awareness to prevent the problem early on.
