Death‑coding Shapes Overdose Counts

CDC describes how ICD‑10 codes and updated counting methods change whether deaths are attributed to prescription opioids versus illicit synthetics. Small shifts in classification rules and provisional coding practices can materially alter headline overdose counts and the apparent role of specific drugs. — How public agencies classify overdose deaths matters for policy priorities, funding, and public perception of whether the crisis is driven by prescriptions or illicit fentanyl.