2 days Ago
Opioids The Primary Cause For Escalating Numbers
The data shows that the overwhelming majority of the increase in drug-related deaths can be attributed to opioids being the main contributors. The data show that opioid overdose deaths increased from 40 in 2014 to 161 in 2024, with opioid pain medications constituting almost half (43%) of drug-related deaths overall. Opioid pain medications include substances like heroin, manufacturer's methadone, oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl. The majority of those recorded as having died from these drugs were male, and the average age at which those people died was 48 years.
The Trimbos Institute reported that, compared with other drugs in the dataset, intentional overdose was more likely to lead to a fatality for someone who had died from an opioid than from any other type of drug. About one-third (33% of) of all deaths associated with an opioid (over 50% for men) involved an intentional overdose in comparison to only 10% of all deaths associated with other types of drugs. Unknown drug deaths reported were also at the highest level (in comparison to heroin and all other drugs); in total, the reported number of deaths associated with unknown drugs grew from 45 in 2014 to 135 in 2024.
Other Drugs Have Mixed Results
Many other drugs, including stimulants like amphetamines, ecstasy, and MDMA, had lower overall drug-related deaths. Despite this, there was a slight increase in deaths related to stimulants; the 2014 total for deaths from stimulants was 14, versus 19 for 2024. In contrast, the number of cocaine-related deaths was noticeably higher compared to 2014, with a total of 24, versus 61 in 2024. According to researcher Lisa Davies with the Trimbos Institute, there is still much we do not understand about why these changes in the data have occurred as it relates to drug-related fatalities. Davis indicated that the increase may be attributed to several reasons, including better data systems for reporting drug-related deaths and/or increased usage of drugs among the overall population. The authorities continue to conduct research into the matters presented here and to investigate and understand what has led to the increase in these deaths so that similar deaths can be avoided in the future.
