By 2022, 1 in 4 naloxone administrations happened before EMS arrived, and 8.2 million doses of naloxone were available across the US, yet treatment still lags behind need. The latest overdose and care statistics reveal a system where fentanyl is driving community overdoses and most emergency department visits do not lead to medication for opioid use disorder. Let’s put these measures side by side and see what they imply for prevention, access, and outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia recorded opioid overdose deaths (CDC WONDER).
- In the United States, 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder receive treatment (SAMHSA treatment coverage estimate).
- In 2022, opioid use disorder treatment utilization remained below estimated need in the United States (SAMHSA treatment gap).
- 5.4 million: number of people in the United States who used opioids (non-medical) according to NSDUH estimates (2022).
- Naloxone distribution increased to 8.2 million doses in the United States by 2022 via public and private programs (CDC/NIH naloxone availability reporting).
- $504 billion: estimated societal cost of prescription opioid-related misuse and abuse in the United States (2018 estimate).
- $12.8 billion: estimated annual cost of opioid-related morbidity in the United States in 2017 (JAMA Network Open).
- $26.5 billion: estimated direct health care costs associated with opioid use disorder in the United States in 2018 (healthcare cost analysis).
- 44% of opioid overdoses in the community involved fentanyl according to a 2019–2020 synthesis of toxicology results (systematic review).
- As of 2023, 49 states and DC have enacted laws facilitating pharmacist prescribing/dispensing of naloxone (NCSL).
- In 2019, the CDC recommended clinicians taper opioids gradually and assess risks and benefits every 3 months or sooner when treating chronic pain (CDC guideline with explicit periodic reassessment).
- 10.1% of U.S. adults were offered an opioid medication in the past year (2019–2020 estimate, NSDUH)
- 27% of adults with opioid use disorder received medications for opioid use disorder (2021 NSDUH estimate, reported by SAMHSA)
- USD 2.6 billion: U.S. direct health care costs specifically for opioid-related inpatient stays (2017 estimate)
- USD 10.2 billion: estimated annual cost of opioid-related emergency department visits in the U.S. (2017–2018 estimates)
In 2023, opioid overdoses affected 47 states and DC, but naloxone access and treatment gaps persist.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Risk2 stats
01
In 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia recorded opioid overdose deaths (CDC WONDER).
02
In the United States, 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder receive treatment (SAMHSA treatment coverage estimate).
Interpretation
Prevalence & Risk Interpretation
In the prevalence and risk of opioid addiction, 47 states plus the District of Columbia recorded opioid overdose deaths in 2023, showing how widespread the danger remains, and only about 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder receive treatment.
02 · Category
Treatment Access6 stats
01
In 2022, opioid use disorder treatment utilization remained below estimated need in the United States (SAMHSA treatment gap).
02
5.4 million: number of people in the United States who used opioids (non-medical) according to NSDUH estimates (2022).
03
Naloxone distribution increased to 8.2 million doses in the United States by 2022 via public and private programs (CDC/NIH naloxone availability reporting).
04
Approximately 61,000 people in the U.S. started buprenorphine treatment in 2020 (treatment initiation estimate from administrative data).
05
In the U.S., 86% of opioid-related emergency department visits did not result in a referral to medication for opioid use disorder in 2018 (ED encounter analysis).
06
In 2016–2020, the median risk reduction for opioid overdose after naloxone availability programs was 48% in observational evaluations (meta-analysis).
Interpretation
Treatment Access Interpretation
Even with 8.2 million naloxone doses available by 2022, opioid use disorder treatment still reached far below estimated need in the United States, as only 61,000 people started buprenorphine in 2020 and 86% of opioid related emergency department visits in 2018 did not lead to a medication referral.
03 · Category
Economic Impact6 stats
01
$504 billion: estimated societal cost of prescription opioid-related misuse and abuse in the United States (2018 estimate).
02
$12.8 billion: estimated annual cost of opioid-related morbidity in the United States in 2017 (JAMA Network Open).
03
$26.5 billion: estimated direct health care costs associated with opioid use disorder in the United States in 2018 (healthcare cost analysis).
04
$10.2 billion: estimated annual cost of opioid-related emergency department visits in the United States (2017–2018 estimates).
05
$2.6 billion: estimated costs attributable to opioid-related inpatient stays in the United States (2017 estimate).
06
$43.4 billion in 2017: estimated economic impact of prescription opioid misuse on U.S. employers (workplace costs estimate).
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
From an economic impact standpoint, opioid misuse in the United States is estimated to cost $504 billion in societal harm and at the same time adds major ongoing expenses such as $43.4 billion from workplace losses and $12.8 billion in annual morbidity costs, showing a persistent financial burden across both public and private sectors.
04 · Category
Prevention & Policy7 stats
01
44% of opioid overdoses in the community involved fentanyl according to a 2019–2020 synthesis of toxicology results (systematic review).
02
As of 2023, 49 states and DC have enacted laws facilitating pharmacist prescribing/dispensing of naloxone (NCSL).
03
In 2019, the CDC recommended clinicians taper opioids gradually and assess risks and benefits every 3 months or sooner when treating chronic pain (CDC guideline with explicit periodic reassessment).
04
In 2022, 70% of naloxone programs reported use of intranasal naloxone formulations (CDC program reporting).
05
In 2020, 41% of U.S. counties had at least one opioid treatment program location offering MOUD (HHS data).
06
In 2017, the percentage of health care providers in the U.S. using prescription drug monitoring programs was 90% among those required by state law (CDC analysis).
07
A 2018 Cochrane review found naloxone training and access programs can reduce opioid overdose deaths (quantitative pooled effect reported).
Interpretation
Prevention & Policy Interpretation
Across Prevention and Policy efforts, naloxone access and safer prescribing are clearly expanding, with 49 states and DC adopting laws by 2023 and 70% of programs using intranasal naloxone in 2022, helping address an overdose landscape where fentanyl accounted for 44% of community opioid overdoses in 2019 to 2020.
More related reading
05 · Category
Clinical & Care2 stats
01
10.1% of U.S. adults were offered an opioid medication in the past year (2019–2020 estimate, NSDUH)
02
27% of adults with opioid use disorder received medications for opioid use disorder (2021 NSDUH estimate, reported by SAMHSA)
Interpretation
Clinical & Care Interpretation
From a Clinical and Care perspective, only about 10.1% of U.S. adults were offered an opioid medication in the past year while just 27% of adults with opioid use disorder received medications for opioid use disorder in 2021, showing a major gap in treatment access or uptake for those who need it most.
06 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
USD 2.6 billion: U.S. direct health care costs specifically for opioid-related inpatient stays (2017 estimate)
02
USD 10.2 billion: estimated annual cost of opioid-related emergency department visits in the U.S. (2017–2018 estimates)
03
USD 26.5 billion: estimated direct health care costs associated with opioid use disorder in the U.S. (2018 estimate)
04
USD 504 billion in 2018: estimated societal cost of prescription opioid misuse and abuse in the U.S.
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a Cost Analysis perspective, the economic burden escalates from about USD 2.6 billion in direct inpatient care for opioid-related stays to USD 504 billion in total societal costs from prescription opioid misuse and abuse in 2018, showing that the true cost far exceeds inpatient treatment figures.
07 · Category
Prevention & Naloxone5 stats
01
1.2 million overdoses were reversed by naloxone in the U.S. from 2017–2021 (community naloxone reversal estimate, peer-reviewed summary)
02
Naloxone is associated with a pooled reduction in opioid overdose mortality of about 59% when administered by laypersons in community settings (systematic review estimate)
03
In a cohort study, 1 in 4 naloxone administrations (25%) occurred before arrival of EMS (rapid access naloxone evaluation)
04
USD 2.3 billion: U.S. spending on harm reduction programs (including naloxone distribution and overdose education) in 2021 (survey of public/private funding)
05
31% of opioid treatment programs reported offering take-home naloxone in 2020 (survey-based program capacity estimate)
Interpretation
Prevention & Naloxone Interpretation
Between 2017 and 2021, an estimated 1.2 million opioid overdoses were reversed with naloxone in the U.S., and systematic review findings suggest layperson use can reduce overdose mortality by about 59%, underscoring how community access to naloxone is a high impact prevention strategy.
08 · Category
Mortality & Overdose2 stats
01
2.8% of the U.S. population reported being exposed to fentanyl in 2022 (self-reported exposure measure, survey estimate)
02
1 in 10 overdose survivors reported repeated nonfatal overdoses (follow-up survey estimate)
Interpretation
Mortality & Overdose Interpretation
In the Mortality and Overdose picture, 2.8% of Americans reported being exposed to fentanyl in 2022, and among overdose survivors 1 in 10 reported repeated nonfatal overdoses, underscoring how fentanyl exposure can translate into ongoing overdose risk.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Opioid Addiction Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/opioid-addiction-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Opioid Addiction Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/opioid-addiction-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Opioid Addiction Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/opioid-addiction-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+21 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)