(Washington Insider Magazine) -A total of 106,699 overdose deaths were recorded in the United States in 2021, according to a CDC report, mainly due to fentanyl.
The United States reached a grim record of 106,699 drug overdose deaths in 2021, an increase of 16% over 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in its final report released this week.
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, is driving the rise.
Drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased 22% in 2021, the CDC said. Heroin overdoses, meanwhile, decreased by 32%.
Report of CDC
The CDC previously reported that there were as many as 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021, but revised that number slightly downward in its final tally after examining death records.
The flow of fentanyl into the United States has not decreased in 2022.
The DEA announced this week that it seized 379 million life-threatening doses of fentanyl this year, including 50.6 million counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills and 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder.
Drug overdose deaths from cocaine and other stimulants also increased in 2021.
The rise in drug overdose deaths in 2021 pushed U.S. life expectancy down to 76.4 years last year, the lowest in 25 years, the CDC said separately Thursday.
The coronavirus pandemic was the other main factor in the decline in life expectancy.
This article is authored by Alejandro Gonzalez.
