Drug Overdose Deaths Reached Record High in 2014, CDC Report Shows

Why it matters locally: Alabama, like many states, has struggled with opioid addiction. Data from the Alabama Department of Public Health often reflects trends similar to those identified in the CDC's national reports, indicating the potential for increased overdose deaths within the state.

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Atlanta — Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a record number of drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2014. The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published recently, highlights a significant increase in deaths attributed to opioid overdoses. The report states that nearly 500,000 Americans died from drug overdoses between 2000 and 2014. The analysis points to a continuous upward trend in fatal overdoses throughout the 14-year period. Opioid overdoses, including those involving prescription opioid pain relievers and heroin, experienced a sharp increase in 2014. The CDC reported a 14 percent rise in opioid-related deaths from 2013 to 2014, reaching record levels. The report does not specify precise numbers but emphasizes the increasing severity of opioid overdose deaths within the broader context of overall drug overdose fatalities. The CDC plans to releases more findings in the future.