The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Unintentional overdoses accounted for 388 workplace deaths in 2020
January 07, 2022
Unintentional overdoses from nonmedical use of drugs accounted for 388 workplace deaths in 2020. The number of fatal workplace overdoses increased in each of the last 8 years. The number in 2020 was the highest since these data began in 2011. Unintentional overdoses from nonmedical use of drugs include overdoses from stimulants such as methamphetamine and from narcotics such as fentanyl.
Workplace deaths due to unintentional overdose from nonmedical use of drugs, 2011–20
Year
Workplace deaths due to unintentional overdoses
2011
73
2012
65
2013
82
2014
114
2015
165
2016
217
2017
272
2018
305
2019
313
2020
388
Unintentional overdoses from nonmedical use of drugs represented more than half (57.7 percent) of the cases in the broader event category, exposure to harmful substances or environments. This was the only event category with an increase in workplace deaths in 2020. In total, there were 4,764 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2020, a 10.7-percent decrease from 5,333 in 2019.
United States Department of Labor
