Decline in Missouri opioid death rate

The end of 2019 marked the first year since 2015 that the state of Missouri reported a decrease in the number of opioid overdose deaths, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

In 2019, the number of deaths due to opioid overdose decreased by 3.4% compared to the previous year, the release said. From 2015 to 2016 there was a 35% increase in opioid overdose deaths in the state, followed by a 5% increase in 2017, and a 19% increase in 2018.

“We are encouraged by the decline and it shows a lot of hard work by many people in collaboration throughout Missouri,” Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Dr. Randall Williams, said.

“But it’s important to remember when looking at data that behind every number is a person and their unique story. One overdose death is too many. Those who have lost a loved one to an opioid overdose can attest to that. There is still much work to be done,” Randall said.

A nationwide report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released provisional counts of overdose deaths in the U.S., showing an increase of 3.0% from 2018 to 2019, the release noted. Despite the national increase, the number of opioid overdose deaths in Missouri have decreased.