NC DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Medication & Drug Overdose Deaths, 2019
An epidemic of unintentional medication and drug overdose deaths continues to affect North Carolina. While the number of these
deaths increased by more than 700 percent from 2000 through 201 7, numbers have decreased by 7% from 201 7 to 201 9. The
percent of unintentional medication and drug overdose deaths involving multiple substances is on the rise, and we continue to see
increases not only in opiate-involved overdose deaths, but also stimulant-involved overdose deaths. It is important to keep in mind
that we cannot tell from death certificates if individuals are intentionally using more than one substance. Fentanyl is now present in
both opiate and stimulant products, which may be adding to the potency of these products, and in turn, leading to increased risk of
unintentional overdose deaths.
Medication and Drug Overdose Deaths by Intent: NC Residents, 2000-2019
3,000
2,500
2,000
1 1,500
<u
E 1,000
500
-Unintentional
Suicide
-Assault
Undetermined
-All Intents
Unintentional medication and drug
overdose deaths continue to make
up the majority of all medication
and drug overdose deaths, at 83%
in 2019.
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Vital Statistics-Deaths,
2000-2019
Unintentional Medication & Drug Overdose Deaths by Selected Demographics: NC Residents, 2015-2019
Number
Percent
Rate
Sex
Males continue to die from unintentional overdose at higher rates
Female
3,594
33.9%
13.6
(28.1 per 100,000 N.C. residents) than females (13.6 per 100,000
Male
7,022
66.1%
28.1
N.C. residents).
Race/Ethnicity
American Indians and whites have the highest rates of
Hispanic
242
2.3%
5.0
unintentional overdose deaths (29 and 26.3 per 100,000 N.C.
White*
8,648
81 .7%
26.3
residents, respectively) among state residents.
Black*
1,430
13.5%
12.6
American Indian*
178
1 .7%
29.0
Unintentional overdose death rates are highest among ages 25-34
(43.6 per 100,000 N.C. residents) and ages 35-44 (40.6 per 100,000
Asian/Pacific Islander*
37
0.3%
2.3
N.C. residents).
Other*
46
0.4%
-
Age Group
0-14
12
0.1%
0.1
Please note: Demographic overdose rates vary across type of
substance involved.
15-24
958
9.0%
13.9
25-34
2,973
28.0%
43.6
*Non-Hispanic : 'Other' includes other and multiple races, and unknown
35-44
2,630
24.8%
40.6
(population value not available, rate not calculated)
45-54
2,353
22.2%
34.2
** Rates not reported for <5 deaths
л
Rates unstable for 5-9 deaths ; interpret with caution
55-64
1,345
12.7%
20.4
Rates are per 100,000 NC residents
65-84
311
2.9%
4.3
Source: NC State Center for Health Statistics, 2018-2019, unintentional
85+
34
0.3%
3.7
medication/drug overdose (X40-X44)
NORTH CAROLINA INJURY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
www.injuiyfreenc.ncdhhs.gov
April 2021
