Amid the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history, new research highlights the critical role of timely intervention. According to a recent CDC report, 22% of the people who died from drug overdoses in 2022 also suffered from a non-substance-related mental health disorder, with depression (13%), anxiety (9%), and bipolar disorder (6%) being the most common. The report suggests that these figures are also likely underestimated.
Around a quarter of those who died had at least one recent opportunity for intervention—such as substance use disorder treatment or an emergency department visit within a month of their death.
“Expanding efforts to identify and address co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and strengthen treatment retention and harm reduction services could save lives,” researchers wrote in the report.
More than 80% of the deaths involved opioids, primarily illicit fentanyl.