Understanding the Data: What Drug Has the Highest Death Rate?
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4 min read
According to recent CDC data, opioids—primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl—were involved in approximately 76% of all overdose deaths in 2023, making it the most significant driver of drug-related overdose fatalities. However, a complete answer to "what drug has the highest death rate?" also accounts for legal substances like alcohol and tobacco, which cause more total deaths annually from long-term health complications.
