Overdose deaths among residents of Gaston County have been increasing, reaching a peak of 61.90 per 100,000 population in 2022, compared to 31.60 per 100,000 population in 2021—double the rate. This measure encompasses deaths involving various medications and drugs, including opioids (such as commonly prescribed opioids, heroin, and synthetic narcotics like fentanyl and fentanyl analogues), stimulants (like cocaine and methamphetamine), benzodiazepines, and others. It's important to note that this metric includes fatal overdoses of all intents, with over 90% of these deaths being unintentional.