U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths that Occurred in Isolation, 2022-2024.

AbstractTimeliness of drug overdose response efforts may be improved when bystanders are present to provide life-saving care. From January 2022 through December 2024, a total of 191,577 unintentional or undetermined intent overdose deaths occurred in 46 U.S. states and Washington, DC. Of these, 75.5% occurred in isolation (i.e., with no evidence of a bystander present or with a bystander spatially separated from the decedent), and 55.0% occurred in isolation in a house or apartment setting. Emerging technological approaches, in addition to improvements in overdose education and distribution of opioid overdose reversal medications, may help address the challenge of preventing death among individuals who use drugs in isolation, particularly in the home.