Workplace Risks and the Overdose Crisis: Understanding Opioid and Stimulant Co-Use Across Industries

A recent CDC analysis highlights the growing intersection of synthetic opioid and stimulant co-involved overdose deaths across U.S. industries. In 2022, over half (53.6%) of fatal synthetic opioid overdoses also involved stimulants, with notable occupational trends.

Physically demanding jobs, such as construction, farming, and mining, saw higher rates of psychostimulant use, likely due to stimulant effects that counteract opioid lethargy and alleviate pain. Conversely, less physically strenuous fields, including business, finance, and healthcare, had higher rates of cocaine co-involvement. These findings underscore the need for workplace-specific substance use prevention strategies, addressing occupational stress and injury risks to reduce overdose deaths and improve worker well-being. Read more from CDC’s MMWR here.