Missouri Statewide Overdose Mortality Information
On this page you will find reports on MO statewide overdose mortality. Reports are ordered from the most recent to the oldest. You may also find additional information on the MO Department of Health and Senior Services Dashboard located here. If you have any additional questions about this information, please reach out to our team at nomodeaths@mimh.edu.
For a list of counties that are included in each region on the reports below, please click here
Missouri Regional & Statewide Overdose Deaths
January - June 2023 (Preliminary)
*Click on the image for a pdf version of the document.
Missouri Statewide Drug Overdose Deaths by Region
January-December 2022
Key Takeaway Points:
In Missouri in 2022, 2,178 individuals lost their lives to a drug overdose.
The total number of drug overdose deaths increased by 2.3% statewide in 2022 compared to 2021.
This increase was driven by deaths in the Kansas City Metro Area.
Deaths increased by 5.5% among females and .9% among males.
Deaths increased by 5.5% among Black Missourians but decreased by 1.5% among White Missourians.
St. Louis Metro was the only region with a decrease in deaths among Black individuals (-6.7%).
For the second year in a row, fentanyl was involved in 67% of all overdose deaths in 2022.
The proportion of overdose deaths involving stimulants (either alone or with opioids) continues to increase.
2021 Missouri Drug Overdose Deaths Report (January – December)
Key Takeway Points:
Overall, drug overdose deaths continued to rise and increased 13% in 2021 compared to 2020.
Deaths among males increased 15% and deaths among females increased 11%.
Deaths among Black individuals increased 8% compared to an increase of 15% among White individuals.
The Northeastern Region had the greatest proportional increase (+48%) in total drug overdose deaths in 2021, followed by the Southwestern Region (+37%), the Kansas City Metro Region (+35%), and the Northwestern Region (+34%).
While the St. Louis Metro Region showed little change in the total number of drug overdose deaths in 2021 compared to 2020, it still accounted for 48% of all drug overdose deaths in Missouri in 2021 (compared to 54% the year prior).
The St. Louis Metro Region accounted for 79% of all drug overdose deaths among Black individuals in Missouri compared to 82% the year prior.
Opioid-involved overdose deaths represented the majority (73%) of overdose deaths in Missouri in 2021.
Opioid-involved overdose deaths increased 13% in 2021 compared to 2020.
Stimulant-involved overdose deaths continued to rise in 2021 and increased 24% compared to 2020.
Overdose deaths involving a combination of opioids and stimulants increased 26% in 2021 compared to 2020.
While the St. Louis Metro Region continued to have the highest drug overdose death rate, there was very little change between 2020-2021.
The Southwestern and Kansas City Metro Regions showed the largest increases in overdose death rates in 2021 compared to 2020.
*Click on images on for pdf of full report, charts, and key takeaways
To cite this source: University of Missouri, St. Louis-Missouri Institute of Mental Health Addiction Science Team, Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. (2022). American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles. (2020). 2021 Missouri Drug Overdose Deaths Report (January-December) (2019-2021). Retrieved from https://www.mimhaddisci.org/missouri-overdose-data
All Drug Overdose Deaths by Region, Sex, and Race in Missouri, Comparing 2019-2020*
*Click image for PDF version and more information
2020 Missouri Drug Overdose Deaths by Region, Sex, and Race
*Data Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
*Click the image for more information and data points; all data is considered finalized
Opioid and Stimulant-Involved Overdose Deaths by Region in Missouri, Comparing 2019-2020*
*Click image for PDF version and more information