Wisconsin Health News

Deaths from drug overdoses in Wisconsin increased by 21.8 percent over the past year, according to provisional data released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

There were 1,599 predicted overdose deaths in Wisconsin during the 12-month period ending April 2021, compared to 1,313 the prior year.

The CDC noted the numbers are "underreported due to incomplete data."

Nationally, drug overdoses increased by over 28 percent over the past year. More than 100,000 people reportedly died over the 12-month period, the highest it has ever been.

 Synthetic opioids caused roughly 64 percent of all drug overdose deaths during that time.