CDC Media Briefing — New Vital Signs Report Overdose deaths show historic increase: How can we address widening disparities and save lives?

What

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a historic 30% increase in overdose deaths in the United States from 2019 to 2020. In one year, overdose death rates increased 44% for Black people and 39% for American Indian and Alaska Native people, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. Join us to learn more about these new findings and what can be done to prevent overdose deaths and related disparities.

Who

Debra E. Houry, M.D., M.P.H., CDC Acting Principal Deputy Director and Director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Mbabazi Kariisa, Ph.D., M.P.H., Health Scientist, CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention

When

Tuesday, July 19, at 12:00 p.m. ET

Dial-In   

Media

Domestic: 800-369-1177

International: 1-415-228-4841

PASSCODE: 3058660

Non-Media

Domestic: 888-603-9640

International: 1-415-228-4588

PASSCODE: 2620028

Important Instructions

If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question.

You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

TRANSCRIPT

A transcript will be available following the briefing at CDC’s website: www.cdc.gov/media.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.