Overdose deaths still elevated in Colorado
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For the first time in years, fatal drug overdoses fell 4% nationwide from 2022 to 2023, per new CDC data, but they're slightly up in Colorado.
Driving the news: The state's age-adjusted rate increased in 2023 fractionally to 30.6 per 100,000 people, the CDC says.
The rate for synthetic opioid deaths — such as fentanyl — increased significantly to 19 out of 100,000, up from 16.1 in 2022.
Between the lines: Earlier projections showed similar figures, but the final numbers are less dire.
The big picture: The age-adjusted rate of the U.S. was 31.3 in 2023, the CDC says, and Western states posted higher numbers.
- The rate for synthetic opioids specifically — including fentanyl — dropped to 22.2 from 22.7.
Context: A recent report from specialty lab Millennium Health highlighted a "rising tide" of heroin co-use among fentanyl users, as well as fentanyl and stimulant co-use — part of the "fourth wave" of the overdose epidemic.