The opioid epidemic’s hardest-hit state in the union continues to outpace the nation’s declining overdose death rate.
The most recent available data from the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) shows a 38% decrease in overdose deaths in West Virginia from January to July 2024, compared with the same period in 2023.
West Virginia has led the nation in overdose death rates for a decade with a peak of 77 overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. According to a 2023 report from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, the state saw 1,453 overdose deaths that year.
The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), alongside the ODCP, announced the continuing decrease on Thursday, citing their ongoing prevention and treatment efforts as a contributing factor.
“We are seeing real progress in reducing overdose deaths, a direct result of our ongoing, data-driven efforts,” said Dr. Stephen Loyd, director of the DoHS ODCP. “By continuing to focus on prevention and treatment strategies under Governor Morrisey’s leadership, we are committed to furthering this success.”
According to data collected from August 2023 to August 2024, West Virginia’s drug overdose death rate declined by nearly 28%, outpacing the nation’s 21% decrease.
This data is provisional, meaning these are not finalized figures for the year. However, state officials don’t expect the decrease to fall below 31%, even with pending autopsies.