Wisconsin Health News
Wisconsin saw a 27.4 percent increase in drug overdose deaths last year, according to provisional federal data released this week.
There were 1,539 predicted drug overdose deaths in Wisconsin last year, compared to 1,208 the prior year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The total number is likely underreported due to incomplete data, per the center.
Nationally, drug overdose deaths rose over 29 percent, the largest single-year increase recorded. A total of 93,331 predicted deaths were reported in 2020, compared to 72,151 the prior year.
Overdose deaths rose in all but two states last year, with only South Dakota and New Hampshire seeing a decrease.