A new study reveals that 79,355 U.S. residents died from opioid overdoses in 2023, marking a 12 percent increase from 2022, the highest recorded in U.S. history. This equates to an average of 217 deaths per day, highlighting an escalating public health emergency.
Despite a 51.7 percent drop in opioid prescriptions since 2012, the crisis has worsened due to the surge in fentanyl-related overdoses. Fentanyl is involved in 75 percent of opioid deaths nationwide, hitting the hardest in Appalachia and the Midwest.
The study was conducted by White Law PLLC and it provides a state-by-state analysis of this growing epidemic, using data from the CDC, NIDA, and the AMA’s Opioid Prescription Trends Report (2012-2023). Researchers examined the relationship between declining prescription rates and rising illicit opioid use, adjusting for demographic and healthcare disparities. In addition, the findings were validated using state health reports, law enforcement records, and economic impact assessments.
The opioid epidemic costs the U.S. over $1.5 trillion annually, overloading hospitals, public health systems, and law enforcement.
The states with the highest number of deaths are:
- West Virginia (81.4)
- Ohio (48.2)
- Kentucky (46.3)
- Pennsylvania (42.7)
- Tennessee (39.6)
- Maryland (37.6)
- California (28.9)
- Florida (27.4)
- Texas (24.6)
- Michigan (23.8)
The numbers relate to opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 people.
The U.S. recorded 79,355 opioid-related deaths, with West Virginia (81.4 per 100,000) leading the nation. Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania report over 40 deaths per 100,000, while California and Texas see rising fatalities despite harm reduction policies.
As mentioned above, Fentanyl is now the primary driver of opioid deaths, involved in 79 percent of cases in West Virginia, 72 percent in Ohio, and 86 percent in Maryland. The drug is increasingly mixed with heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills, making overdoses more frequent and deadlier.
A spokesperson from White Law PLLC has told Digital Journal: “USA is facing an escalating public health emergency. Despite efforts to restrict opioid prescriptions, overdose deaths continue to rise, driven by fentanyl and polydrug use. The data makes one thing clear—prescription limits alone are not enough. We need a comprehensive approach that expands addiction treatment, harm reduction strategies, and law enforcement efforts against illicit drug trafficking.”
