Native Issues
Public Health
Jul 10, 2025

CDC data shows Native and Black males have highest fentanyl death rates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows Native American males and Black males had the highest death rates from illicit fentanyl in 2023, according to EIN Presswire. University of Oklahoma chemistry professor Donna Nelson presented the data at the InspireOK 25 Conference on June 27, with Oklahoma Secretary of State Ryan Walters in attendance.

While the CDC’s overall data for 2015 through 2023 revealed a leveling and slight decline in overall fentanyl-related death rates in 2023, the rates for Black males continued to rise. For Native American males, rates declined slightly but remained higher than those for white males.

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