CDC Names the Deadliest Drugs in America

The Current Deadliest Drugs in America

In the final month of 2018, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released a report of the drugs that have been involved in the most deaths from 2011 to 2016. Many of the deadliest drugs in America are not surprising. The U.S. has been in the throes of an opioid epidemic since before 2017. However, looking at the cold, hard numbers is sobering. In the year 2016 alone, the drugs involved in the greatest number of deaths were:

1. Fentanyl — 18,335
2. Heroin — 15,961
3. Cocaine — 11,316
4. Methamphetamine — 6,762
5. Alprazolam (Xanax) — 6,209
6. Oxycodone — 6,199
7. Morphine — 5,014
8. Methadone — 3,493
9. Hydrocodone — 3,199
10. Diazepam (Valium) — 2,022

These numbers do not represent cases where the listed drug was the only drug involved in the death. For example, nearly 70% of the cases where fentanyl was found also involved another drug like heroin or cocaine. That is one of the reasons that the death rate of fentanyl has exploded in recent years, growing by nearly 10 times in 4 years.

The Deadliest Drugs in America from 2011 to 2016

While more people died from drug use in 2016 than any year prior, the list does not give an accurate representation of the whole picture. 289,915 lives came to an end due to drug use between 2011 to 2016. So, while fentanyl was involved in nearly a third of the deaths of 2016, it actually pales in comparison to other drugs. Over the course of six years, the drugs that were involved in the greatest number of deaths were:

1. Heroin — 59,305
2. Cocaine — 39,701
3. Fentanyl — 36,005
4. Oxycodone — 33,154
5. Alprazolam — 26,840
6. Morphine — 23,839
7. Methamphetamine — 22,949
8. Methadone — 22,699
9. Hydrocodone — 18,905
10. Diazepam — 10,459

If you or someone you love suffer from addiction, please don’t become another victim of the deadliest drugs in America. There are plenty of treatment facilities across the country that can help you with your addiction. If you don’t know where to start, or how to come forward, try reaching out to a compassionate treatment provider. They are available around the clock to speak with and consult on your recovery. They can help you find the best treatment available based off your needs.

Last Edited: September 22, 2020

Author

Cooper Smith

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Cooper Smith earned his Bachelor’s in Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University. While he was initially interested in a career in television, he saw an issue in his community and felt compelled to do something more. Now, he uses his knowledge to reach out to people who may need help and make the public aware of issues we are facing as a society. When he isn’t behind a computer, Cooper travels somewhere new.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). National Vital Statistics Reports. Retrieved on December 12, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_09-508.pdf