A new study reveals that 79,355 U.S. citizens died from opioid overdoses in 2023, marking a 12 percent increase from 2022, which is the highest recorded in U.S. history. Moreover, this translates to a mean of 217 deaths per day.
Despite a 51.7 percent drop in opioid prescriptions since 2012, the crisis has worsened due to the surge in fentanyl-related overdoses, proving that prescription limits alone are insufficient.
A recent review, conducted by White Law PLLC, 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).
In terms of the 79,355 deaths, fentanyl is involved in 75 percent of the opioid deaths nationwide, hitting the hardest in Appalachia and the Midwest. The opioid epidemic is also costing the U.S. over $1.5 trillion annually, overloading hospitals, public health systems, and law enforcement.
West Virginia (#1) and Ohio (#2) have the highest opioid-related death rates, while California, Texas, and Florida are experiencing rising overdose fatalities despite policy efforts.
The top ten states with the worse death rates are:
- West Virginia
- Ohio
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Maryland
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- Michigan
The study analyzed opioid overdose deaths, prescription data, and fentanyl-related fatalities from the CDC, NIDA, and AMA Opioid Prescription Trends Report (2012–2023).
West Virginia (81.4 deaths per 100,000 people) leads the U.S. Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania report over 40 deaths per 100,000, while California and Texas see rising fatalities despite harm reduction policies.
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.
In terms of what this costs municipal services, West Virginia ($10.2 billion) and Ohio ($9.5 billion) suffering the highest economic losses. Even states with lower overdose rates, like Texas ($5.1 billion) and Michigan ($4.9 billion), bear massive financial burdens, proving this crisis impacts every sector of society.
For many economists and healthcare professionals, the opioid epidemic is no longer just a drug crisis, it is a full-scale public health emergency. Overdose deaths continue to rise despite prescription cutbacks, proving that illicit fentanyl and polydrug use are the real drivers of the crisis.
