Although the rate of unintentional drug overdose deaths decreased 20% from 2016 to 2019 in Oklahoma, the rate increased 28% from 2019 to 2020. Methamphetamine is the most common substance involved in drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma - involved in nearly two-thirds of DO deaths in 2020. Methamphetamine overdose deaths increased 12-fold from 2007 to 2020 - from 39 to 470 deaths, respectively.
From 2007 to 2016, prescription opioids were the most common type of drug involved in drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma. The rate of unintentional prescription opioid overdose death decreased 68% from 2013 to 2019. From 2019 to 2020, the number of fentanyl overdose deaths more than doubled - from 47 deaths in 2019 to 127 in 2020. Fentanyl was involved in nearly half of all opioid-related deaths, compared to 10-20% annually in previous years. Prior to 2020, Oklahoma saw an increase in illicitly manufactured fentanyl and heroin-related overdose deaths, but not at the scale of other states.
Mailing Address: Oklahoma State Department of Health Injury Prevention Service 123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave Suite 1702 Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address: Oklahoma State Department of Health 123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave Oklahoma City, OK
Telephone: 405.426.8440 Fax: 405.900.7588