Deaths due to drug overdoses, expressed as a rate per 10,000 residents.
In addition to ending a life tragically, a death by drug overdose profoundly affects surviving relatives and friends. Rising drug overdose deaths can reflect increasing rates of addiction, more potent and dangerous substances, inadequate systems to treat and support addicts, and other worrisome trends.
In 2024, Essex County had an overdose mortality rate of 2.3 deaths per 10,000 residents, 36% lower than in 2018 when it was 3.6 per 10,000. Essex's rate was on par with the state and national rates of 2.2 and 2.3 per 10,000 respectively.
The mortality rate for Essex County in 2024 was higher than Lake, IL (1.8 per 10,000 residents), Middlesex, MA (1.5 per 10,000 residents) and Westchester, NY (1.0 per 10,000 residents).
Deaths may be accidental or intentional, or this information may be unknown.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Lake County, IL | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Westchester County, NY | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 |
| Massachusetts | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.2 |
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 287 | 294 | 274 | 319 | 300 | 250 | 192 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 365 | 337 | 339 | 409 | 430 | 353 | 242 |
| Lake County, IL | 99 | 90 | 115 | 137 | 136 | 145 | 129 |
| Westchester County, NY | 165 | 114 | 173 | 192 | 199 | 168 | 97 |
| Massachusetts | 2,241 | 2,210 | 2,302 | 2,585 | 2,642 | 2,387 | 1,590 |
