Report: Deaths from Synthetic Opioids Double in 2016

U.S. deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide increased by 11% in 2016, to nearly 142,000, according to a report released today by Trust for America’s Health and Well Being Trust. Deaths from synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil, doubled to 19,400, while deaths from other opioids declined by 3%. The alcohol death rate rose by 5% in 2016, and the suicide death rate rose by 1%. While drug and suicide death rates continued to be highest among white Americans in 2016, they increased more for black and Latino Americans than for other demographic groups, according to the report. “These new data demand policymakers rethink what communities are affected and what multi-sector strategies are needed to address these three epidemics,” said TFAH President and CEO John Auerbach.