American Zombies: Over 300 Die Daily Due to 'This'

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A new, grim record has been set in the United States, where the problem of drug overdose is severe. The U.S. has long faced social issues related to fentanyl, known as the "zombie drug," which is the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 49.

On the 22nd, the Associated Press cited recent figures from the U.S. federal government, reporting that approximately 108,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2022. This is the highest annual death toll ever recorded. The number is more than twice the deaths related to firearms (44,000 in 2022).

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the official figure for 2022 is 107,941, a 1% increase from 107,000 in 2021. Initial provisional estimates had suggested that overdose deaths in 2022 would exceed 109,000. This data includes all overdose deaths, but the final figure was adjusted to include only U.S. residents. While the overdose death rate among men slightly increased, the rate among women decreased for the first time in five years. Men account for about 70% of overdose deaths in the U.S.

The AP stated, "Over the past 20 years, the number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. has increased almost every year, continuously setting new annual records," adding, "It has become the worst overdose epidemic in U.S. history." The U.S. has long faced social issues related to fentanyl, known as the "zombie drug," which is the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 49.

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