Opioid-Related Fatalities Are Declining the Fastest in These 20 States

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Addiction-Rep.

The United States has been battling an opioid crisis and overdose deaths for decades.

In response to the crisis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency in 2017. But despite federal and state interventions, opioid-related deaths continued to rise, claiming more than half a million lives between 2014 and 2023.

Fortunately, opioid-related fatalities declined in 2023 and continued to fall during the first half of 2024, marking a potential turning point in the crisis.

While some states have made significant progress in reducing opioid-related deaths, others continue to struggle, raising concerns about the epidemic’s long-term trajectory.

To better understand these shifting patterns, researchers at Addiction-Rep, a marketing firm for rehab centers, analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Their findings highlight key trends in the nation’s ongoing fight against opioid fatalities. Here are the states that are experiencing the steepest declines in opioid deaths.

20. Louisiana

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -23.1%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -291
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 21.5
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 28.0
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 990
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,281
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: June 2022

19. Tennessee

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -23.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -713
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 34.2
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 44.7
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 2,472
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 3,185
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: June 2023

18. New Jersey

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -23.8%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -574
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 21.3
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 27.9
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 2,016
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 2,590
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: June 2020

17. Minnesota

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.4%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -264
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 14.7
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 19.4
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 850
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,114
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: June 2023

16. Kentucky

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -425
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 30.2
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 40.0
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,384
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,809
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: November 2021

15. Michigan

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -594
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 18.8
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 24.9
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,904
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 2,498
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: February 2022

14. Massachusetts

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.6%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -540
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 25.1
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 33.2
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,785
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 2,325
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: January 2023

13. Indiana

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.6%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -474
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 21.8
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 28.8
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,505
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,979
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: February 2022

12. Missouri

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.6%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -395
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 20.0
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 26.5
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,246
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,641
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: March 2023

11. Maine

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.7%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -150
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 33.5
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 44.5
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 471
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 621
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: January 2023

10. Georgia

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -24.7%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -492
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 14.2
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 18.8
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,582
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 2,074
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: May 2023

9. Kansas

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -25.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -128
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 13.1
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 17.6
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 389
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 517
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: March 2023

8. Illinois

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -25.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -793
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 19.1
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 25.6
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 2,423
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 3,216
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: February 2022

7. Wisconsin

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -26.0%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -369
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 18.2
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 24.6
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,085
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,454
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: March 2022

6. South Carolina

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -27.1%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -490
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 25.9
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 35.5
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,415
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 1,905
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: June 2023

5. Virginia

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -27.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -598
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 18.6
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 25.7
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,638
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 2,236
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: December 2021

4. Arkansas

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -28.5%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -101
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 8.4
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 11.8
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 260
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 361
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: July 2022

3. Ohio

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -28.8%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -1,222
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 26.2
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 36.8
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 3,109
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 4,331
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: April 2021

2. Pennsylvania

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -28.9%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -1,141
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 22.1
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 31.1
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 2,892
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 4,033
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: January 2022

1. North Carolina

• Year-over-year percentage change in opioid-related death rate: -47.7%
• YOY total change in opioid-related deaths: -1,729
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2024): 17.9
• Opioid-related deaths per 100,000 (12 months ending June 2023): 34.2
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2024): 1,972
• Opioid-related deaths (12 months ending June 2023): 3,701
• Peak month for opioid-related deaths: May 2023

Methodology

Opioid-related deaths and death rates were obtained from the CDC WONDER online database.

Deaths were identified using multiple cause-of-death codes, including opium (T40.0), heroin (T40.1), natural opioid analgesics (T40.2), methadone (T40.3), synthetic opioid analgesics excluding methadone (T40.4), and other or unspecified narcotics (T40.6). The latter category includes cases where an opioid was reported but not specifically identified.

For the first half of 2024, the analysis used the CDC’s provisional data file, which is subject to updates, while final data files were used for all other periods.

To identify the states where opioid-related deaths are declining the fastest, researchers at Addiction-Rep calculated the percentage change in the opioid-related death rate between the 12-month period ending in June 2024 and the 12-month period ending in June 2023.

They also examined the total number of opioid-related deaths in each period and the change in total deaths.

This analysis covers all opioid-related deaths, though overdoses account for approximately 98% of such cases nationwide. Monthly population estimates were derived from the Census Bureau’s annual July estimates, assuming a consistent rate of change between months.

Only states with complete data for the entire study period were included.