More than 100,000 people died in the United States in a 12-month period for the first time ever, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The overdose deaths spiked by 29%, from 78,056 from April 2019 to April 2020, to 100,306 in the following 12 months.
Vermont led the rise with a 70% increase. West Virginia saw a large increase as well with 62%. Kentucky (55%), Louisiana (52%) and Tennessee (50%).
Some states saw a decrease, including South Dakota, which went down nearly 20%.
Most of the drug overdose deaths are due to opioids use, including fentanyl. Opioids accounted for 75% of the 100,000+ deaths.
Cocaine accounted for a rise in deaths as well. More people died from cocaine in 2021 than it did in 2020. Heroin deaths saw a decreased.
