The report, published Thursday, looked at information from crime scene investigations, witness reports and autopsy data and categorized overdose deaths by evidence of smoking, injecting, ingesting or snorting drugs.
By the end of 2022, smoking was the most common form of drug consumption involved in overdose deaths.
Specifically, the percentage of overdose deaths that involved smoking increased almost 74% – from 13.3% to 23.1% – between 2020 and 2022.
During the same time period, the percentage of overdose deaths involving injections fell from 22.7% to 16.1%.
People may have switched from injecting drugs to smoking due to a perception that the overdose risk is lower, according to the report.
Persons:
Molly Reid, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ”, Reid, it’s, ” Reid, “
Organizations:
CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, CNN Health, CDC
Locations:
United States