The National Center for Health Statistics has released a comprehensive analysis of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. from 2011 through 2016.
The findings are based on the written documentation or "literal text" on death certificates.
Drug overdose deaths increased 54 percent from 2011 to 2016.
The 10 drugs most frequently involved in overdose deaths included hydrocodone (used in Vicodin), methadone, morphine, alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and methamphetamine.
Most overdose deaths involved oxycodone (OxyContin) in 2011, heroin from 2012–2015 and fentanyl in 2016.
Cocaine repeatedly ranked second or third.
Accidental overdoses most commonly involved fentanyl, heroin or cocaine, while people who died by suicide tended to overdose on oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
