CDC’s data shows the frightening record high of overdose deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) provisional data shows that drug overdose deaths hit a record high of 107,622 in 2021. This is an increase of 15 percent over the 2020 reported overdose deaths. The overdose deaths due to opioids (synthetic or manufactured) were 71,000. The deaths related to methamphetamines increased to 33,000. The deaths related to cocaine were just under 25,000 (note that many fatal overdoses include combinations of drugs, hence the overlap). This data is currently provisional, and may be updated in the future.
I thought that I would review the coding process for poisoning, based on the Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines for ICD-10-CM 2022, Section I.C.19.e. This portion of the guidelines says:
The Poisoning and Adverse Effect Codes are found in the code range of T36-T50 (Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments, and biological substances) and T51-T65 (Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source).
We can see that the coding of these cases impacts data that is publicly reported. Incorrect reporting will cause the data to be revised.
Resources:
ICD-10-CM, Table of Drugs, 2022
ICD-10-CM Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines, April 2022: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Publications/ICD10CM/2022/
Editors Note: This article was originally published on ICD10monitor, April 15, 2025 In a sweeping policy shift, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
In just days, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may begin eliminating regulations it deems unlawful or beyond its authority – that
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