NC OCME data on overdose deaths [2020]

NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) | October 2022 NC OCME Data on Overdose Deaths, 2020 About OCME The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC OCME) investigates all sudden, unexpected, and violent deaths in North Carolina, including all suspected drug-related or poisoning deaths, and oversees the operations of the state’s entire medical examiner system. The NC OCME collects data from autopsy reports, death certificates, investigation reports, and toxicology reports on all deaths investigated by the medical examiner system in NC. Overdose deaths in 2020 reached a record high, according to provisional data from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC OCME). This report uses the most recent data from the NC medical examiner system to update statistics on deaths from overdose. Overdose deaths included in this report are deaths that have been confirmed as poisonings, regardless of intent, based on the results of comprehensive investigation. In 2020, there were 3,454 overdose deaths certified by the medical examiner system, a 32.6% increase in overdose deaths compared to 2019 (n=2,604). • Accidental overdoses accounted for nearly 95% of overdose deaths in 2020 (n=3,263). • In 2020, 25.5% of deaths investigated by the medical examiner system (n=1 3,552) were deaths from overdose. • Overdose deaths in 2020 increased 63.8% compared to 2016 (n=2, 109). • Illicit and prescription opioids were involved in 81.8% of overdoses (n=2,825). Figure 1 . Number and Rate of Overdose Deaths by Year, 2010 - 2020 The NC OCME Toxicology Laboratory is accredited by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and performs toxicology testing on all-drug related deaths in NC to assist the pathologist in determining cause and manner of death. NOTES: 2020 data are provisional and subject to change. Poisoning deaths solely attributed to carbon monoxide and natural deaths from chronic alcoholism are excluded. 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 October 2022 1 Rate per 100,000