2016 Synthetic‑Opioid Inflection

CDC national mortality data show 2016 as a clear inflection: drug overdose deaths jumped to 63,632, with synthetic opioids (principally illicit fentanyl) doubling age‑adjusted death rates from 2015 to 2016 and cocaine/psychostimulant fatalities also rising. The pattern was nationwide across ages, races, urbanization levels, and numerous states, signaling a transition to a polysubstance, potency‑driven epidemic. — Recognizing 2016 as the synthetic‑opioid inflection point reframes policy from opioid‑only responses toward integrated, rapid surveillance and polysubstance harm‑reduction (naloxone distribution, testing, treatment linkage, and supply‑side collaboration).