A recent study has revealed a sharp rise in drug overdose rates in Colombia, particularly from 2018 to 2021. The findings, published on September 12 in the American Journal of Public Health, indicate that overdose deaths have surged across various substances and demographic groups.

The study, led by Julian Santaella-Tenorio, Dr.P.H., from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, analyzed data from a health surveillance system spanning 2010 to 2021. The research examined overdose trends based on substance type, gender, age, and intent, offering a comprehensive overview of the evolving drug crisis in the country.

According to the data, the age-adjusted overdose rate skyrocketed from 8.51 per 100,000 individuals in 2010 to 40.52 per 100,000 in 2021. Notably, overdose rates among men were higher than those among women for most substances, except for opioids and psychotropics. While overdose rates involving cannabis and stimulants increased until 2017 before tapering off, there was a significant rise in psychotropic medication-related overdoses from 2018 to 2021. The majority of these cases were intentional overdoses among young women.

“Our findings provide crucial insights into the growing drug overdose problem in Colombia,” the authors noted. “The data highlights a substantial rise in overdose rates, particularly among adolescents and young adults, affecting both men and women.”

The study underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to address the increasing rates of drug overdoses in Colombia, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as young adults and women.