Report on Drug Overdose Deaths among Women Aged 30–64

Report on Drug Overdose Deaths among Women Aged 30–64

Middle-aged women remain vulnerable to death by drug overdose, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released today. CDC examined overdose death rates among women aged 30–64 years during 1999–2017 overall and by drug subcategories (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids, excluding methadone).

Key Findings

• Drug overdose deaths continue to rise among women.
  The crude drug overdose death rate among women aged 30–64 years increased by 260% between 1999 and 2017. The rate went from 6.7 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (4,314 deaths) in 1999 to 24.3 (18,110 deaths) in 2017.
  • The age distribution of drug overdose deaths among middle-aged women changed. Among women age 30–64, the average age of death from drug overdoses increased by nearly three years.
  • Opioids are a significant contributor to the rise in overdose deaths among women aged 30-64. However, analyses confirm that the recent sharp increases in the drug overdose epidemic were driven by deaths involving synthetic opioids, like illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF). 
  • During this time, rates of drug overdose deaths increased for those involving synthetic opioids (1,643%), heroin (915%), benzodiazepines (830%), prescription opioids (485%), cocaine (280%), and antidepressants (176%).

More Information

• MMWR: Drug Overdose Deaths among Women Aged 30–64 years — United States, 1999–2017
• CDC: Opioid Overdose Prevention