Nonfatal Drug and Polydrug Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments — 29 States, 2018–2019

Abstract

© 2020 Department of Health and Human Services. All rights reserved. What is already known about this topic? In 2017, a total of 967,615 nonfatal drug overdoses were treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs); polydrug ED-treated overdoses increased from 2017 to 2018. What is added by this report? Rates of ED-treated suspected nonfatal drug overdoses involving opioids, cocaine, and amphetamines, and of polydrug overdoses co-involving opioids and amphetamines increased from 2018 to 2019. Rates of suspected benzodiazepine-involved overdoses declined. Opioids were substantially co-involved with cocaine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine overdoses in 2019; 23.6%, 17.1%, and 18.7% of cocaine-, amphetamine-, and benzodiazepine-involved overdoses, respectively, involved opioids. What are the implications for public health practice? Opioids have substantial involvement in nonfatal overdoses, including those involving other drugs. Expanding syndromic surveillance to better inform overdose prevention efforts and increasing naloxone provision to persons who use stimulants are essential.