Death toll from drugs has more than doubled worldwide over past three decades, study finds

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October 2, 2025, 6:38 PM

• •Global incidence of DUD increased by 36% between 1990 and 2021.
• •Global prevalence of DUD increased by 34% over the same period.
• •The global mortality rate due to drug use increased by 31%.
• •The surge in deaths is mostly due to systemic gaps in harm reduction and access to treatment.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry analyzed global data on drug use disorder (DUD) from 1990 to 2021, revealing a complex picture. While the prevalence rate of DUD slightly decreased, the number of drug-related deaths more than doubled, and the total health loss increased significantly. The study highlights systemic gaps in harm reduction and access to treatment as major contributors to the rising mortality. Researchers predict that without intervention, high-income settings will likely see continued high or increasing death rates, while some middle-income regions may improve.

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