Drugs Now Kill More Americans Than Cars

In 1999, There Were More Than Twice as Many Motor Vehicle Deaths as Fatal Drug Overdoses. by 2014, Those Numbers Had Flipped, with Almost 40 Percent More Deaths from Overdoses Than Car Crashes. in All, 29,230 People Died in Car Accidents in 2014, While 47,055 Died from a Drug Overdose.

Cocaine Used to Be the Leading Killer. Not Anymore.

The Majority of Overdoses Now Stem from Prescription Opioids and Heroin, According to Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That Wasn’t Always the Case. in 1999, Cocaine Killed About Twice as Many People as Heroin — 3,822 and 1,960 Deaths, Respectively — While Opioids Killed 4,030.

Opioid Prescriptions Tripled over 20 Year's

One Factor Behind the Surge in Heroin and Opioid Use Was the Dramatic Spike in the Use of Prescription Painkillers.

The Epidemic Has Hit Nearly Everyone, Regardless of Race

Every Racial Demographic Has Seen More Overdoses Since 1999, with Heroin Spiking Especially After 2010. Whites and Native Americans Have Experienced the Largest Rise in Death Rates, Particularly When It Comes to Opioid-Related Fatalities. by 2014, Whites and Native Americans Were Dying at Double or Triple the Rates of African-Americans and Latinos, According to the Cdc.

Heroin Deaths Skew Younger. Opioid Deaths Come Later.

Likewise, Nearly Every Age Group Has Been Touched by the Opioid Epidemic. Heroin Deaths Skew Younger, According to Cdc Data, While Fatal Opioid Overdoses Are More Likely to Happen in Middle Age.

Twelve States Have More Opioid Prescriptions Than People

Not Every State Has Seen an Equal Rise in Opioid Use. in Hawaii, Doctors Wrote 52 Opioid Prescriptions for Every 100 People in 2012, the Least of Any State According to a 2014 Cdc Study. in Alabama, It Was Almost 143 Prescriptions per 100 People, More Than Anywhere Else.

How Bad Is the Opioid Epidemic?

By Chloe Bennett

• Oct 8, 2026 • 5 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

February 23, 2016

Chloe Bennett

Culture, Media & Entertainment Columnist

Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.

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