Opiate Induced Deaths


Source: Centers for Disease Control, CDC Wonder System

Two things should stand out to you about the charts above: the first, is the exponential increase in opiate-induced deaths from 1991 to 1998. The second is how closely the chart on the right maps to the "standard curve" of distributions about a mean. Since these deaths are accidental, it makes sense that the age at death chart would follow such a statistical average.

Categorizations and Mortality Figures for Opiate Induced Death

Opiate Induced Deaths
  850.0  
Year 304.0 304.7 305.5 Number % of total Year Total
1979 21 3 2 341 93 367
1980 11 1 1 322 96 335
1981 10 1 4 405 96 420
1982 12 1 4 559 97 576
1983 13 1 7 503 96 524
1984 14 0 9 628 96 651
1985 9 0 11 867 98 887
1986 13 0 12 930 97 955
1987 25 1 11 595 94 632
1988 14 1 10 798 97 823
1989 24 0 12 957 96 993
1990 17 0 13 931 97 961
1991 29 2 20 872 94 923
1992 23 0 42 1,279 95 1,344
1993 21 1 42 1,728 96 1,792
1994 15 0 77 1,732 95 1,824
1995 31 1 148 2,118 92 2,298
1996 34 0 155 2,075 92 2,264
1997 36 0 191 2,377 91 2,604
1998 25 1 203 2,718 92 2,947
Grand Total 397 14 974 22,735 94 24,120
Source: Centers for Disease Control

Since 94 percent of opiate induced deaths over the 20 years were caused by accidental poisoning, it makes sense that the age distribution of victims would follow the statistical standard curve. But how do we explain the sudden increase in deaths from 1991 to 1998? Perhaps this will help to explain the situation:

Sources: ONDCP 2002 Drug Control Strategy
Centers for Disease Control

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