Opioid overdose

Sudden illness and injury, Mental health and substance use. Also called: Opioid poisoning.

How common is Opioid overdose in the US?

Rate of emergency department visits for suspected fentanyl-involved nonfatal overdose of unintentional or undetermined intent, per 10,000 total ED visits: 2.9 per 10,000 ED visits (Total emergency department visits, United States, CDC National Syndromic Surveillance Program, Q1 (January-March) 2024; United States (CDC National Syndromic Surveillance Program), October 2020-March 2024 (rate shown is for Q1 2024)). Source: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report (CDC), 2025. Label: VERIFIED.

• 2.9 per 10,000 ED visits Rate of emergency department visits for suspected fentanyl-involved nonfatal overdose of unintentional or undetermined intent, per 10,000 total ED visits. Out of: Total emergency department visits, United States, CDC National Syndromic Surveillance Program, Q1 (January-March) 2024. Where: United States (CDC National Syndromic Surveillance Program). When: October 2020-March 2024 (rate shown is for Q1 2024). Fentanyl-involved nonfatal overdose ED visits only, a subset of all opioid overdoses; excludes fatal overdoses and overdoses not presenting to an ED. Label: VERIFIED.

  During quarter (Q) 4 (October-December) 2020 to Q3 (July-September) 2023, rates of fentanyl-involved nonfatal overdose ED visits increased 8.7% per quarter, from 1.4 to 3.5 per 10,000 ED visits, then declined 11.0% per quarter, to 2.9 per 10,000 ED visits, from Q3 2023 to Q1 (January-March) 2024.

  Source: Trends in Suspected Fentanyl-Involved Nonfatal Overdose Emergency Department Visits, by Age Group, Sex, and Race and Ethnicity - United States, October 2020-March 2024. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report (CDC), 2025. PubMed 40338824. DOI 10.15585/mmwr.mm7416a2.

Each figure measures something different. Do not compare them with each other or with other conditions.

Medical codes

• ICD-10-CM FY2026: T40.2X1A Poisoning by other opioids, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter (narrower). Other T40 codes cover heroin, methadone, synthetic opioids, and intent.

Research activity

As of 2026-09-24: 143 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (search Opioid Overdose) and 2,354 PubMed records, 2021 to 2025. A count of records is not how common or serious the condition is.

Population information, not medical advice. Methodology · Known limitations