IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine, have surpassed opioids as the leading cause of overdose deaths in Iowa, according to state and federal health data.
Three years ago, opioids such as fentanyl were the top cause of overdose deaths in the state. The CDC reports psychostimulants moved to the number one position in 2024 and have remained there. Iowa Health and Human Services said the majority of those deaths involve methamphetamine.
Johnson County data reflected the shift early
Susan Vileta with Johnson County Public Health said the statewide trend was not unexpected locally.
“It wasn’t too surprising to us. In Johnson County, stimulant overdoses, from 2020 to 2023 had actually been higher than opioid overdoses,” Vileta said…