Iowa recorded 250 drug-related deaths as of July 31, 2024, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, mirroring the state’s annual traffic fatalities. Brad Richardson, co-director of the University of Iowa’s Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation, noted that drug-related deaths have remained steady in recent years, with totals reaching 471 in 2021, 473 in 2022, and slightly dropping to 446 in 2023. While the current numbers suggest stabilization, Richardson emphasized it’s too early to conclude a downward trend.
Drug and traffic fatalities in Iowa are now occurring at similar rates, each averaging around 400 annually. Richardson highlighted challenges in categorizing deaths, particularly in cases where intoxication may contribute to traffic accidents. He also identified troubling demographic trends, with Black Iowans—despite being only 4.5% of the population—accounting for 11% of drug-related deaths since 2021. Additionally, the 0-24 age group has seen a rise in fatalities, while people 55 and older remain the most affected.
Richardson stressed the need for further analysis to determine the specific substances involved, whether opioids, meth, or other drugs. While the data provides a foundation for investigation, he warned that any fatality rate matching traffic deaths is unacceptably high.
