Overdose Deaths Neared a Record 72,000 in 2017

Drug overdoses killed roughly 72,000 Americans last year, a record number that reflects a 10{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} increase from the prior year, according preliminary estimates for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Analysts pointed to two major reasons for the increase — growing numbers of Americans using opioids, and drugs becoming more deadly. And especially the latter.

The report shows that in parts of New England, where a more dangerous drug supply arrived early, that the number of overdoses has begun to fall. But nationwide, the crisis worsened, said the CDC.