SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — For the second year in a row, San Diego County has seen a significant drop in overdose deaths, according to new data released by the San Diego County Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Taskforce (SUOPT).
- The Nexstar Media video above explains the different schedules of drugs
In 2024, 945 people died from drug overdoses, a 21% decrease from 2023 and 25% drop from the county’s 2022 peak. That equates to a rate of 27.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
While health officials welcomed the downward trend, they cautioned that the numbers still reveal serious and persistent disparities among different demographic and geographic groups. Here’s a breakdown of who is most affected:
- Men died at nearly three times the rate of women (40.9 vs. 13.3 per 100,000)
- Black residents suffered the highest overdose death rate at 68.6 per 100,000
- Adults aged 45-64 were the most affected age group, followed by those 25-44
- Approximately 30% of overdose deaths involved individuals experiencing homelessness
While overdose deaths are down, historical data show emergency departments were stretched at the height of the crisis. Here’s a deeper look at that data:
- In 2021, San Diego County saw the highest number of overdose-related ER visits in five years
- Males visited ERs for overdoses at more than double the rate of females
- Black residents experienced a 167% spike in opioid-related ER visits between 2019 and 2023—nearly three times the countywide increase
- Among youth under 18, ER visits due to opioids rose 81% between 2019 and 2023, though peaked in 2021
Law enforcement data also shows evolving patterns in drug trafficking and arrests, as follows:
- Federal methamphetamine charges dropped 60% from 2020 to 2024
- Fentanyl-related federal prosecutions decreased 30% from 2022 to 2024
- However, local fentanyl prosecutions doubled in that same period
- Methamphetamine-related arrests peaked in 2021, making up 13% of all arrests, before falling back to 2020 levels
Several regions across San Diego County recorded overdose death rates well above the county average:
- Central San Diego: 103.0 per 100,000
- Mountain Empire: 96.9
- Palomar-Julian: 53.3
- Lemon Grove: 49.8
- Pauma: 49.2
SUOPT says it will continue working with public health officials, community organizations, and law enforcement to address gaps in care, improve prevention strategies and save lives.
Community members who want to get involved or seek support are encouraged to visit the county’s Substance Use Resources page or reach out to local health providers…