U.S. death toll from drug overdoses is rising fast among Black and Indigenous people

More than 91,000 people in the U.S. died from drug overdoses in 2020. There were sharp increases among certain racial groups, a new report finds. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Jeff Chiu / Jeff Chiu

Historic rises in drug overdose deaths are disproportionately affecting Black and Indigenous people in the United States.

A new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using data from 25 states finds that fatal overdoses increased by 44% among Black people in 2020 compared with the year prior.

The jump in drug overdose deaths was almost as sharp for American Indian and Alaska Native people — groups that together saw a 39% increase over the previous year.