U.S. surpassed 100,000 overdose deaths in 2021

• The data presented is incomplete, as many deaths require more investigating to confirm a cause, though estimates rarely largely differ from the final totals.

The National Center for Health Statistics said at least 107,622 people died from overdoses in 2021, a major increase from the estimated 93,655 deaths in 2020.

• Overdose deaths involving opioids increased from an estimated 70,029 in 2020 to 80,816 in 2021.
• Alaska experienced the largest percentage increase in overdose deaths in 2021. Deaths there were up by 75.3%.

The big picture: Overdose deaths passed 100,000 in a 12-month period for the first time in November 2021.

• The U.S. experienced its highest yearly death total in 2021 because of coronavirus fatalities and overdose deaths.
• Adolescents and young adults lost an estimated 1.2 million years of life from unintentional drug overdoses between 2015 and 2019, according to a study published in JAMA in February.

What they're saying: “It is unacceptable that we are losing a life to overdose every five minutes around the clock," said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

• "That is why President Biden’s new National Drug Control Strategy signals a new era of drug policy centered on individuals and communities, focusing specifically on the actions we must take right now to reduce overdoses and save lives."
• The Biden administration last month sent Congress its first national drug control strategy, which emphasizes addressing untreated addiction through harm reduction strategies and evidence-based treatments and clamping down on drug trafficking.

Go deeper: Walgreens reaches $683 million opioid settlement with Florida