Polydrug overdose mortality caused by synthetic opioids and stimulants: Current sex- and age- specific trajectories in national data (2018-2024)

Recent years have shown major increases in overdose (OD) mortality caused by polydrug exposure to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and stimulants such as methamphetamine or cocaine. The goal of this study is to understand the trajectory and recent trends in this polydrug OD mortality, and how these are associated with decedents’ sex and age. We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of national data for persons aged 15-74, from CDC WONDER for 2018-2024 (data for 2024 are currently considered provisional). The outcome measure was OD mortality rate/100,000 population; annual data for 2018-2024 were analyzed with joinpoint regression, and the most recent years (2023-2024) were analyzed with ANOVA and multiple linear regression. Males had greater polydrug OD mortality compared to females, across 2018-2024. Sex-specific joinpoint regressions detected increases in polydrug OD after 2018, then decreases from 2023 in males, and from 2022 in females. For polydrug OD, the annual percent change (APC) in 2024 versus 2023 was -37% and -31% in males and females, respectively. For synthetic opioids without stimulants, OD trends in 2024 versus 2023 were similar to those for polydrug OD (-41% and -38% APC in males and females, respectively). However, trends for stimulants without synthetic opioids showed relatively smaller changes (-3% APC in both sexes). Stratification into 10-year age groups for polydrug OD revealed that mortality peaked at age 35-44 and then declined at older ages. Recent decreases in polydrug OD mortality were observed across age groups, with joinpoints typically detected in 2022 or 2023. These findings indicate that after increases from 2018 onward, polydrug OD mortality caused by synthetic opioids and stimulants exhibited substantial decreases in both males and females in the most recent data available for 2024, and across a broad age range. Because relatively small changes were observed in OD mortality caused by stimulants without synthetic opioids in this time period, the decreases in polydrug OD mortality are more likely to be caused by changes in exposure, prevention or intervention strategies focused on opioids rather than on stimulants. While this polydrug OD mortality has decreased in 2024, it remains at concerning levels.