Drug Related Deaths

Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death for adults in the United States. From 2003 to 2022, the number of fatal overdoses tripled among women of reproductive age (15 – 44 years old) in the U.S., accounting for a significant loss of life and highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies to prevent harm. 

Women are particularly susceptible to substance use and drug-related fatalities. Biological mechanisms that set women apart – including differences in hormone levels, cardiovascular function, stress response, and body composition – have been linked to increased vulnerability to substance use and relapse. Additionally, women are more likely to be prescribed pain medication and psychotropic medications for mental conditions compared to men, inviting initial exposure and access to medication.

Disparities are present among drug-related deaths in Oklahoma. As of 2023, middle-aged women (35-54 years old) and American Indian/Alaska Natives have higher rates of drug-related fatalities among females in the state, mirroring national trends. 

Fatalities due to drugs are often associated with substance use disorder (SUD), a chronic but treatable mental disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior. Someone with SUD struggles to control their use of substances (think legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications), impairing their ability to carry on with their normal, daily life. 

Despite the danger it presents, SUD remains a heavily stigmatized disease – especially for women. Substance use often predisposes women to poor physical health outcomes at higher rates than their male counterparts, such as excess mortality rates and negative impacts on reproductive health.

Pregnancy is a key window for drug use intervention and recovery. However, pregnant women and mothers face unique risks when it comes to  drug-related health problems and treatment. Mothers often cite child care responsibilities or fear of losing child custody as barriers to seeking care. This is especially prevalent in Oklahoma, which has one of the highest rates of pregnancy criminalization and female incarceration in the nation. Lack of understanding underpins mounting efforts to criminalize using certain substances during pregnancy, despite evidence that incarceration hurts families in the long-term (see Paths to Recovery, Female Incarceration Rates, ACEs Reported). 

As with most health issues, the key to reducing drug-related deaths is prevention. Unfortunately, accessing this care – particularly medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – can be challenging, especially since women are less likely to seek help for it. A variety of factors keep women from treatment, including cost (see Unable to See a Doctor Due to Cost), distance of facilities, fear and stigma, and lack of qualified providers (see Access to Mental Health Services).

From 2021 to 2024, 43.6% of national opioid and stimulant overdose deaths occurred while a bystander was present. Bystander training and naloxone (a medication that reverses opioid overdose) administration are key components of preventing drug-related deaths and promoting recovery. 

Further, harm reduction programs are an essential part of overdose prevention. From 2022 to 2024, harm reduction organizations in Oklahoma served 8,896 clients and reported 1,212 overdose reversals using naloxone, preventing thousands of drug-related deaths in the state.