Data Release: 2024 drug overdose mortality update

The Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS) and Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP) released an update to the 2024 Drug Overdose Mortality Report, which is now available on the HAVRS Data and Statistics website.

Drug overdoses are a significant contributor to deaths in the Mat-Su and across Alaska and represent an ongoing public health concern.

This joint report by HAVRS and OSMAP provides an update on drug overdose deaths occurring in Alaska through 2024.

Overall, overdose fatalities were down, but overdose rates were still affecting Alaska Natives. Some key takeaways from the report include:

-339 fatal drug overdoses occurred in Alaska, down from 357 in 2023.

-The overall age-adjusted death rate was 45.6 deaths per 100,000 population, down from 49.3 in 2023.

-Rates were highest among men (58.4 deaths per 100,000), American Indian/Alaska Native people (101.9 deaths per 100,000), people ages 35-44 years old (90.6 deaths per 100,000), and people located in the Anchorage region (74.0 deaths per 100,000).

-7% of deaths involved multiple drugs used in combination. Synthetic narcotics (including fentanyl) were involved in 75.2% of overdoses; psychostimulants (including methamphetamine) were involved in 59.6% of overdoses.

Within the report is information such as the demographic characteristics of overdose victims, where deaths occurred, the types of drugs and multidrug combinations involved in fatal overdoses, and prevention strategies and resources to help reduce overdose mortality.

As for 2025, according to the Alaska Opioid Data Dashboard, as of May 3, there have been 245 opioid overdose deaths from March, 2024 to February 2025. In the Mat-Su, there have been 45 opioid deaths, the second-highest in the state for that time period. Anchorage had 164 reported opioid-related overdose deaths.

Alaska continues to experience high rates of drug overdose deaths, many of which involve opioids. Knowing the signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond can save lives. When given in time, naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications.

Help is available for Alaskans. If you’re experiencing a mental health or substance misuse crisis or are concerned about a friend or loved one, please call 988.