Drug Use

Drug Use is one of the modifiable risk factors tracked by the IHME Global Burden of Disease Study. The attributable deaths shown here represent the estimated number of deaths that could be prevented if exposure to this risk factor were eliminated or reduced to optimal levels. Understanding risk factor contributions helps prioritize public health interventions and policy decisions.

Risk factor attribution uses comparative risk assessment methodology. A single death may be partially attributed to multiple risk factors, so attributable death counts should not be summed across risk factors. Data covers 204 countries from 1990 to the latest available year.

Drug use is a behavioural risk factor contributing to approximately 500,000 deaths annually through overdose, drug-related infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis C), liver disease, cardiovascular events, and injuries. Opioid use accounts for the majority of drug-related mortality, with the synthetic opioid crisis in North America driving record overdose deaths exceeding 100,000 per year in the United States alone. An estimated 296 million people used drugs in 2021, a 23% increase over the previous decade. Injecting drug use is a major driver of blood-borne viral transmission: 12% of people who inject drugs are living with HIV, and over half have been exposed to hepatitis C. While North America and Europe bear the highest burden of opioid overdose deaths, methamphetamine use is surging in East and Southeast Asia, and tramadol misuse is an emerging concern in West Africa. Substance use disorders are chronic relapsing conditions shaped by genetics, adverse childhood experiences, mental health comorbidities, and social environment.

Drug Use contributes to mortality from opioid overdose, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, cardiovascular disease, and 2 other conditions. Across 203 countries, an estimated 39 deaths are attributed to this risk factor annually. The highest absolute burden is in United States (3 deaths), WB_NA (3 deaths), Canada (2 deaths). On a per-capita basis, Kiribati has the highest attributable death rate at 0.5 per 100,000 population.

Harm reduction saves lives: needle and syringe programmes reduce HIV and hepatitis transmission, opioid agonist therapy (methadone, buprenorphine) halves overdose risk, and naloxone distribution enables community overdose reversal. Supervised consumption facilities reduce overdose deaths in surrounding areas. Evidence-based addiction treatment combines pharmacotherapy with psychosocial support. Prescription drug monitoring programmes and clinical guidelines reduce iatrogenic opioid dependence. Decriminalisation of personal drug use reduces barriers to treatment.