North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data
North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data
Jump to: Interactive Overdose Data | Monthly Reports | Other Resources
Overdose Deaths
Overdose Emergency Department Visits
From 2000-2022, more than 36,000 North Carolinians lost their lives to a drug overdose. Nearly 12 North Carolinians died each day from a drug overdose in 2022. Recent year death data is not yet final, but an estimated 4,000 North Carolinians (11 per day) are projected to have died from an overdose in 2023.
This site includes monthly overdose surveillance updates, statewide summary data, and interactive visuals of state, regional, and county-level metrics for partners across North Carolina to understand the impacts of the overdose epidemic in their communities.
For more information:
- DHHS Overdose Epidemic website: Preventing overdose deaths in North Carolina.
- NC Opioid Overdose Settlement website: Planned settlement payments, spending plans, and funded strategies.
- Custom injury data request page: Request overdose data from the Injury & Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB).
Monthly Overdose Reports
For the most up to date state and county* information about fatal and nonfatal overdoses, including provisional data and demographics, see Monthly Overdose Data Reports.
To receive email updates of these reports email us at substanceusedata@dhhs.nc.gov.
*Note: not all reports have county reports and not all counties have reports
Interactive Overdose Data
Overdose data included on this page are updated annually, except for annual ED visit and death rates, which are updated monthly. Maps include the most recent year of data.
Data points (both rates and counts) are colored by the relative rates seen for that metric across NC and/or counties ever recorded, accounting for population differences between places.
Use critical thinking when comparing and interpreting rate ranks (HIGHEST, HIGH, MIDDLE, LOW, LOWEST) and colors in graphs and maps! Here are three examples:
• Some metrics have obvious good/bad directionality. For example, more overdose deaths are always “bad.” Other measures may be more clearly “good” when they are high, like increased treatment access. Some metrics are more complex. Visits to the emergency department (ED) for overdose are, at face-value, not “good." However, a higher overdose ED visit rate may mean that more people were able to get lifesaving care.
• Even if a metric is ranked LOW or LOWEST, prevention programs can and should continue to lower rates of negative health outcomes. Even if rates are currently low, they may still be increasing.
• Rates that are ranked as HIGH or HIGHEST may increase over time. Rate rankings may change in the future as new data points are added that expand the ranges of LOW and HIGH.
More Data Resources
- Download statewide overdose data and associated data dictionary.
- The Core Overdose slide set (PPTX) gives an overview of the history of the epidemic in North Carolina, presents statewide overdoses trends, our state’s actions to prevent overdoses, and connection between overdoses and other public health topics. We encourage you to use these slides; they may be incorporated into your own presentations without prior permission.
- Know What's in Your Drugs: Counterfeit Pills Fact Sheet (PDF)
Data Considerations: For important data considerations, see overall injury data technical notes (PDF) and injury metric case definitions.
Funding Disclaimer: This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Overdose Data to Action in States (CDC-RFA-CE-23-0002) cooperative agreement award totaling $4,950,273 with 100% funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government
Suggested citation: NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Injury & Violence Prevention Branch. “North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data | Division of Public Health.” North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data. Accessed <access date>. https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/ivpb-overdose-data.