Data

The Injury Prevention Service monitors trends in drug overdoses using several data sources – the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), a population-based surveillance system that includes detailed information from death certificates and medical examiner reports of unintentional and undetermined manner drug overdose deaths; inpatient hospitalization data; emergency department discharge data; prescription drug monitoring program controlled prescription dispensations; and various surveys and ad hoc evaluations.

Although, the rate of unintentional drug overdose deaths increased 77% from 2020 to 2023 in Oklahoma, the rate decreased 15% from 2023 to 2024. Methamphetamine is the most common substance involved in drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma – involved in two out of three drug overdose deaths in 2024. Methamphetamine overdose deaths increased nearly 21-fold from 2007 to 2023 from 39 to 813 deaths, respectively. However, there was a 7% decrease in methamphetamine overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024 from 813 to 760 deaths, respectively.

From 2007 to 2016, prescription opioids were the most common type of drug involved in overdose deaths in Oklahoma. The rate of unintentional prescription opioid overdose death decreased 68% from 2013 to 2019. From 2020 to 2023, the number of fentanyl overdose deaths increased nearly 6-fold, from 127 deaths in 2020 to 730 in 2023. However, there was a 34% decrease in fentanyl overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024 from 730 to 487 deaths, respectively. Fentanyl was involved in 86% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, compared to approximately 10-20% annually prior to 2020. Before 2020, Oklahoma saw an increase in illicitly manufactured fentanyl overdose deaths, but not at the scale of other states.

For counties not hyperlinked, fact sheets are not available because of small numbers of deaths or hospitalizations. For more information on these counties, previous overdose fact sheets, or other requests for drug overdose data, please contact the Injury Prevention Service. 

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
Injury Prevention Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

Telephone: (405) 426-8440
Fax: (405) 900-7588
Email: injury@health.ok.gov