Urban–Rural Differences in Drug Overdose Death Rates, 2020

A new brief from the National Center for Health Statistics gives geographic detail on the latest increase in overdose death rates. Overall, urban counties had higher rates, but eight states – California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Vermont, and Virginia – had rates that were higher in rural counties. The data showed that, compared to urban counties, female death rates were higher in rural counties and that deaths involving psychostimulants – such as cocaine and methamphetamine – were higher in rural counties.