Overview

• Nearly 42% of US adults know someone who died from a drug overdose, reflecting the widespread impact of the nation's overdose crisis.
• The average number of overdose deaths known by those affected is two, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of these tragedies.
• Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is a major contributor to the rise in overdose deaths, often being mixed with other drugs unknowingly to users.
• The loss from overdose deaths is associated with long-term grief, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation among survivors.
• Efforts to support those grieving overdose deaths are seen as crucial to addressing the crisis, with a call for more research and policy support.