Guide
Are overdose deaths falling?
64,433 people died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in the 12 months ending June 2026, down 13% from 73,905 a year earlier and 42% below the peak of 111,466, in the 12 months ending June 2023. Deaths involving fentanyl and similar drugs were 33,264, against 77,695 at their peak. The counts are provisional.
Figures update themselves from 9 charts; newest data as of June 30, 2026.
Overdose deaths, 12 months ending June 2026
64,433
Down 13% from a year earlier
The peak
111,466
12 months ending June 2023
Involving fentanyl and similar drugs
33,264
12 months ending June 2026; peak 77,695
Overdose deaths since 2015
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Each point counts the deaths in the 12 months before it, which smooths out busy and quiet months. CDC's provisional counts start with the 12 months ending January 2015, when 47,523 people died. The count peaked at 111,466 in the 12 months ending June 2023; in the 12 months ending June 2026 it was 64,433.
Which drugs are involved
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In the 12 months ending June 2026, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were involved in 33,264 deaths, more than any other drug, followed by methamphetamine and other stimulants (23,576) and cocaine (18,627). Many deaths involve more than one drug and count once for each.
Fentanyl, stimulants, heroin and pills
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Deaths involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids rose from 5,766 in the 12 months ending January 2015 to a peak of 77,695 in the 12 months ending June 2023, and were 33,264 in the 12 months ending June 2026.
Over the same 12 months, 23,576 deaths involved methamphetamine or similar stimulants (peak 36,963), 18,627 involved cocaine (peak 30,512), 1,599 involved heroin (peak 16,168, in the 12 months ending June 2017) and 6,883 involved prescription-type opioids such as oxycodone (peak 15,003).
By state and age
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In the 12 months through June 2025, Alaska had the highest overdose death rate, 43.6 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by New Mexico (41.9) and West Virginia (41.5). Nebraska had the lowest, 8.3, and the U.S. rate was 20.8. Rates are age-adjusted, so states with older or younger populations compare fairly.
By age, people aged 35–44 had the highest rate, 39.4 per 100,000 people that age, followed by ages 45–54 (37.6).
What these numbers can and can't tell you
These are CDC's provisional counts from death certificates. The latest months are slightly undercounted while some causes of death are still being investigated, so recent figures usually rise a little when they are final.
A death involving several drugs counts once for each, so deaths by drug add up to more than the total. When CDC publishes a new month, the charts update themselves, and so does every number on this page.
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Sources
CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Provisional drug overdose death counts (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of June 30, 2026, in these charts:
- How many Americans die of drug overdoses each year?
- How many overdose deaths involve fentanyl and similar drugs?
- How many overdose deaths involve methamphetamine?
- How many overdose deaths involve cocaine?
- How many overdose deaths involve heroin?
- How many overdose deaths involve prescription opioids?
- Which drugs are involved in US overdose deaths?
CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Quarterly provisional estimates of mortality (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of June 30, 2025, in these charts: