Abstract
Background
The opioid crisis is a public health challenge in the United States, significantly impacting mortality rates. This has been further exacerbated by COVID-19, contributing to a surge in substance use and overdose deaths.
Methods
Data from the CDC Wonder Database was used to identify opioid use-related deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2023. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated across different geographic and demographic groups. Temporal trends in mortality were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) in mortality rates were calculated.
Results
Opioid-related mortality surged during the COVID-19 period, with significant regional, racial, and state-level disparities. The Midwest region exhibited the highest AAPC from 1999 to 2023. State-specific analyses showed that West Virginia experienced the highest increase in AAMR from 1999 to 2023. Among racial groups, non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives had the highest AAPC from 1999 to 2023. Gender-specific analyses revealed that males had a higher AAPC from 1999 to 2023 than females.
Conclusion
The United States opioid crisis continued to escalate during the COVID-19 period, with significant increases in mortality across the regions. The highest AAPCs were seen in the Midwest and among non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to account for trends in racial and regional disparities in opioid-related mortality that have increased during and post-COVID-19.