KFF released new issue briefs examining trends in opioid overdose deaths and alcohol-induced deaths.

Opioid overdose deaths:

• Overall: Opioid overdose deaths fell sharply 2023-2024 (79,358 to 54,045), driven by decreases in fentanyl-involved deaths. But deaths remained higher than in 2019, the year before opioid deaths increased sharply during the pandemic.
• By demographic: In 2024, opioid death rates were the highest among those 26-64, American Indian/Alaska Native people, Black people, and males. All demographic groups saw declines in opioid death rates 2023-2024, but most groups still had higher rates in 2024 than in 2019.
• By state: State rates in 2024 were lowest in Nebraska and highest in West Virginia. Rates fell across all states 2023-2024, with the largest drops in Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Almost half of states remained above 2019 levels.

Alcohol deaths:

• Alcohol-induced deaths are deaths caused by conditions directly attributable to alcohol consumption, such as alcohol-associated liver diseases (as opposed to alcohol-related deaths, which is a broader category that includes alcohol as a contributing cause of death).
• Overall: Alcohol deaths increased gradually before the pandemic, jumped in 2020 and 2021 (to peak of 54,258), and have fallen since (to 46,714 in 2024), though deaths remain above 2019 levels.
• By demographic: In 2024, alcohol deaths were highest among adults 45-64, American Indian/Alaska Native people, and males. Alcohol death rates remained above 2019 levels for several groups, with those 26-44 and 65+, White people, and females being most above 2019 rates.
• By state: Alcohol-induced death rates in 2024 were lowest in New Jersey and highest in New Mexico. Rates remained higher than 2019 rates for most states. Changes ranged from declines in New Jersey (9%) and West Virginia (6%) to an 80% increase in Mississippi.
• But: The total number of deaths nearly doubles when those where alcohol is listed as a contributing cause are included (alcohol-related deaths). There were 93,118 alcohol-related deaths in 2024, exceeding opioid overdose deaths (55,535 when underlying and contributing cause are included).