Drug Overdose Deaths Among Women Aged 30–64 Years — United States, 1999–2017 | MMWR

Drug Overdose Deaths Among Women Aged 30–64 Years — United States, 1999–2017 | MMWR





Heads up: STAT's reporters are answering questions from STAT Plus subscribers about this year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in a live chat today at 11 a.m. Sign up here.

Overdose deaths are soaring among women over 30

Drug overdose deaths among women ages 30 to 64 are soaring, according to a new CDC analysis of data from 1999 to 2017. Here's a look at the findings: 

• The drug data: The rate of drug overdose deaths involving any opioid rose 492 percent during that time. Deaths involving heroin rose 915 percent; benzodiazepines 830 percent; cocaine 285 percent; and antidepressants 176 percent. 
• The age breakdown: Overdose deaths climbed most dramatically — nearly 500 percent — among women ages 55 to 64. In 2017, overdose deaths rates were highest among women ages 50 to 54.
• The takeaway: "Overdose deaths continue to be unacceptably high, and targeted efforts are needed to reduce the number of deaths in this evolving epidemic, including those among middle-aged women," the authors write.