Opiod Overdoses Follow Hard To Characterize Geographic Patterns

The stereotype of an opiod overdose death is someone in a rural area who is overwhelmed with despair. And, there is something to this stereotype. Consider the places with the leading per capita rates of opiod deaths:

West Virginia has a Opioid Overdose Death Rate (Age-Adjusted) value of 43.4, followed by New Hampshire with 35.8 and Ohio with 32.9.

But, there is more to the story.

The lowest rate of opioid overdose is Nebraska (2.4). Kansas (5.1), South Dakota (5.0), Montana (4.2), Texas (4.9) and California (4.9) are also near the bottom. But, Utah (16.4) and New Mexico (17.5) are high.

All of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states are also quite high.

The pattern of overdose deaths defies easily summarization.