More Drug Overdose Deaths Than Combined Vehicle and Firearm-Related Deaths

Drug overdoses claimed more American lives than did vehicle crashes or firearm-related incidents, combined, in 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there were 45,404 motor vehicle traffic deaths and 48,830 firearm deaths in 2021, 106,699 Americans died from drug overdoses or poisonings.

This is equivalent to 13.7, 14.7, and 33.7 motor vehicle traffic, firearm, and drug overdose/poisoning deaths per 100,000 Americans, respectively.

CDC further breaks down the 106,699 drug overdose or poisoning deaths, revealing that 80,411 of these deaths involved opioids and 9,173 involved heroin.