The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a reporttoday that says fentanyl has become the deadliest drug in the nation, overtaking heroin.
From 1999 to 2016, drug overdose deaths in the United States tripled from 6.1 per 100,000 people to 19.8 per 100,000 people, the CDC reportsays. The study examined decedents who were U.S. residents with an underlying cause of death being a drug overdose, including people who did it unintentionally and intentionally (suicide and homicide and undetermined reasons).
"The top 10 drugs involved in overdose deaths remained consistent throughout the 6-year period,
the report says. This includes:
1. fentanyl
2. heroin
3. hydrocodone
4. methadone
5. morphine
6. oxycodone
7. alprazolam
8. diazepam
9. cocaine
10. methamphetamine
"The drugs that ranked 11–15 varied from year to year and included such drugs as diphenhydramine, citalopram, acetaminophen, carisoprodol, tramadol, oxymorphone and amitrip," the CDC said.
Overdose deaths from methadone decreased by 10 percent per year from 2011 to 2014, according to the report.
