The United States is set to set a grim record of 106,699 drug overdose deaths in 2021, a 16% increase over 2020, the CDC said in its final report released this week.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is driving the increase. The CDC said that drug overdose deaths are set to increase by 22% in 2021. Meanwhile, heroin overdoses decreased by 32%.
The CDC previously reported that more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths were expected in 2021, but revised that number slightly in its final tally after examining death records.
The flow of fentanyl into the United States is not slated to end in 2022.
The DEA announced this week that it had seized 379 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl This year, 50.6 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and 10,000 pounds of powder contained fentanyl.
Drug overdose deaths from cocaine and other stimulants are also projected to increase in 2021.
Increase in drug overdose deaths in 2021 cuts US life expectancy by a 25 year low 76.4 years Last year, the CDC said separately on Thursday. The coronavirus pandemic was the other main factor in the decline in life expectancy.