"Rise in Fatal Overdoses Tied to Smoking Drugs, Not Injections"

A new CDC report reveals that for the first time, more fatal drug overdoses in the US come from smoking drugs than injecting them, with smoking overdose deaths surging 74% while injection overdose deaths fell 29% from early 2020 to late 2022. The shift to smoking fentanyl may be due to the perception of better intake control, as well as the physical toll on veins from frequent injections. Over 70% of the 2022 drug overdose deaths were linked to synthetic opioids, including illegally manufactured fentanyl.