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Mapped: Overdose Deaths in America
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Key Takeaways
- The U.S. recorded 75,519 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending March 2025, down around 27% from the year before.
- California accounted for just under 1 in 8 overdose deaths nationwide.
- West Virginia (-42.8%), Virginia (-39.5%), and New York (-34.3%) led the nation in percentage declines.
After rising sharply over the last decade, overdose deaths in the United States fell between March 2024 and March 2025. This map visualizes estimated drug overdose deaths by U.S. state, based on numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics.
It’s important to note that drug overdose deaths often require lengthy investigations. Death certificates may initially be filed with the manner of death listed as “pending investigation,” which can lead to an underestimation of drug overdose fatalities.
California Leads
California reported 9,180 overdose deaths—more than any other state. That accounts for over 12% of all overdose deaths nationwide. Texas (4,716) has only about half as many deaths as California, despite having a population of similar magnitude (31.2 million).
| Jurisdiction | Deaths (Mar 2024-2025) | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|
| California | 9,180 | -22.8 |
| Texas | 4,716 | -16.2 |
| Florida | 4,555 | -35.4 |
| Washington | 3,215 | -9.5 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,153 | -27.8 |
| Ohio | 2,908 | -33.4 |
| Arizona | 2,727 | 3.8 |
| Illinois | 2,379 | -27.5 |
| Tennessee | 2,376 | -31.8 |
| North Carolina | 2,271 | -30.1 |
| New York City | 1,989 | -34.3 |
| New York | 1,957 | -39.7 |
| Georgia | 1,859 | -22.3 |
| Michigan | 1,783 | -32.5 |
| New Jersey | 1,721 | -32.3 |
| Colorado | 1,650 | -14.6 |
| Maryland | 1,614 | -32.6 |
| Indiana | 1,602 | -23.9 |
| Kentucky | 1,450 | -27.2 |
| Massachusetts | 1,413 | -36.6 |
| South Carolina | 1,385 | -31.1 |
| Louisiana | 1,383 | -34.7 |
| Nevada | 1,381 | -4.8 |
| Missouri | 1,368 | -27.8 |
| Virginia | 1,344 | -39.5 |
| Oregon | 1,305 | -31.6 |
| Alabama | 1,057 | -30 |
| Wisconsin | 1,022 | -37.7 |
| Minnesota | 1,011 | -21 |
| Connecticut | 934 | -27.4 |
| New Mexico | 807 | -15.9 |
| Oklahoma | 774 | -35.3 |
| West Virginia | 739 | -42.8 |
| Utah | 695 | -1.3 |
| Kansas | 562 | -9.9 |
| Puerto Rico | 547 | -25.5 |
| Mississippi | 470 | -23.8 |
| Iowa | 433 | -5.7 |
| Maine | 424 | -28.9 |
| District of Columbia | 367 | -38.8 |
| Arkansas | 348 | -29.7 |
| Delaware | 342 | -30.6 |
| Hawaii | 337 | -0.3 |
| Alaska | 332 | -14.4 |
| Idaho | 303 | -17.7 |
| Rhode Island | 298 | -26.1 |
| New Hampshire | 248 | -38.5 |
| Vermont | 182 | -24.8 |
| Montana | 165 | -7.3 |
| Nebraska | 151 | -0.7 |
| North Dakota | 112 | -18.2 |
| Wyoming | 94 | -27.1 |
| South Dakota | 81 | -2.4 |
| United States | 75,519 | -26.6 |
Sharp Declines in the East
Some of the biggest improvements were seen in states like West Virginia, Virginia, and New York, each reporting declines of nearly 40% or more. These states had previously been epicenters of the opioid epidemic. Targeted interventions and shifts in drug supply may be contributing to these reductions.
Smaller States, Smaller Numbers
At the other end of the spectrum, states like Wyoming (94 deaths) and South Dakota (81) reported the lowest totals. While these figures are lower in absolute terms, rural areas often face limited access to treatment and higher overdose risks per capita.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: America’s Homeless Population by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.