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CDC researchers have found nearly 60% of drug overdose deaths from 2021 to mid-2024 involved stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, with around 43% involving both stimulants and opioids, and almost 16% involving stimulants and no opioids.
The newly released report analyzed data from CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and National Vital Statistics System to determine trends in stimulant-involved overdose, a less studied aspect of the drug overdose epidemic. From 2018 to June 2024, cocaine-involved overdose death rates nearly doubled (4.5 to 8.6 per 100,000) and psychostimulant (largely methamphetamine)-involved overdose death rates almost tripled (3.9 to 10.4), mostly with opioids. Those who died from stimulant overdose with no opioids involved were generally older (45+) and more likely to have cardiovascular disease than people who died of overdoses involving both stimulants and opioids.
Preventing Stimulant Overdose
Stimulants are now involved in most overdose deaths, but there are no approved stimulant overdose reversal drugs or FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant use disorder. Unlike with opioids, naloxone cannot reverse a stimulant overdose. Urgent and coordinated action is needed across sectors:
- Community-based overdose education and prevention strategies tailored to affected groups, like older people and those with cardiovascular conditions, could help reduce the potentially fatal impact of stimulant use.
- Healthcare providers can screen for stimulant use during routine care to identify people at increased risk of stimulant-induced cardiovascular events and provide access to evidence-based treatments for stimulant use disorder like contingency management.
- Public health authorities can educate people who use drugs, their families, friends, and clinicians to recognize the signs of stimulant overdose, which may improve response times and save lives.
You can learn more about the risks of stimulant use, how to identify a stimulant overdose, and find additional resources in CDC’s Stimulant Guide.
You can learn more about the risks of stimulant use, how to identify a stimulant overdose, and find additional resources in CDC’s Stimulant Guide.
As we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) 2025, we reflect upon the impact overdose has had on our communities—remembering those we have lost and recognizing not only the many voices calling for collective action against drug overdose, but also the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the drug overdose epidemic. We must continue to accelerate and strengthen CDC's continued investments in prevention to reduce overdose deaths. CDC remains committed to data-driven, community-focused strategies that meet the unique needs of the people most affected by the overdose epidemic to save lives and create a healthier America for all.
On this IOAD, remind your networks about the importance of overdose awareness and prevention. Overdose knows no boundaries and our efforts must connect the many voices impacted by overdoses. Help promote these resources with sample social media posts found within our IOAD Partner Toolkit.
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