Missouri sees first significant decline in drug overdose deaths in almost a decade

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported the first significant overdose death decrease since 2015, with 1,948 deaths in 2023.

The department says 1,310 overdose deaths were caused by synthetic opioids, 18 by heroin with a synthetic drug present and five deaths caused by heroin alone.

According to the department, Missouri saw its highest number of overdose deaths in 2022, with 2,180 deaths reported. In Boone County, 55 overdose deaths were reported; 12 overdose deaths were reported in Cole County.

Over 73% of overdose deaths in 2023 were caused by opioids, with 37 opioid-related deaths in Boone County and 11 in Cole County.

Opioids and heroin once drove the drug overdose epidemic, but the department says synthetic opioids like fentanyl have become the primary drug causing death. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Boone County reported fewer than five heroin overdose deaths in 2023 and Cole County reported none.

In Central Missouri, Phelps County had the third highest overdose death rate for all drugs, with the department reporting 29 deaths in 2023.

The Department of Health and Senior Services attributes the decrease to the availability of naloxone, a medication that reverses an opioid overdose. In 2017 the department issued a statewide standing order for naloxone, making the medication available without a prescription at pharmacies and public health agencies.

Nationwide, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reports 107,543 drug overdose deaths, a 3% decrease from 2022.