CDC Reports Overdose Death Rates Increased Nationally, Decline In 14 States

On March 4, 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released preliminary data on drug overdose deaths indicating that during the 12-month period that ended August 2017, the overall overdose death rate increased by 13.3% over the previous year. During the year ended August 2016, there were 59,417 overdose deaths. The number of deaths the following year (by the end of August 2017) rose to 67,344. The rate declined in 14 states, and rose in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

 The overdose death rates declined the most in Wyoming, a drop of . . .