The global number of deaths directly or indirectly attributable to drugs continued to increase in 2023, the last year with comprehensive estimates available, although population-adjusted rates have grown slower, suggesting that the growth was in part due to population growth at the susceptible age.

• Indirect deaths are responsible for about two thirds of all drug-related deaths.
• Drug-related deaths from indirect causes such as liver diseases and other harms related to hepatitis C are the most common.
• People who use drugs mainly lose years of healthy life because of opioid use disorder.
• While HIV-related deaths decreased over the past 19 years, deaths related to drug use disorders (mainly overdose deaths) and deaths related to hepatitis C increased.