Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2025

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Alcohol-related Opioid Overdose Deaths in Minnesota Between 2011 and 2020: Trends by Sex
Jessica K Friedman1, Nate Wright, Kari M Gloppen
1From the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (JKF); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (NW); Injury and Violence Prevention Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN (NW, KMG).
Objectives:
To characterize the overall trend and differences by sex in opioid overdose death (OOD) and alcohol-related opioid overdose deaths (AOOD) in Minnesota between 2011 and 2020 in relation to drug overdose deaths.
Methods:
Using Minnesota death certificate data from 2011 to 2020, we identified OOD and AOOD among Minnesota residents aged 15 and older who died of a drug overdose death. We calculated significant differences in the annual proportion of OOD and AOOD and sex differences using Pearson x2 tests.
Results:
Approximately 59% of all drug overdose deaths are attributed to opioids, and 18% of those deaths are alcohol-related. Significant increases in the proportion of OOD were found between 2019 and 2020 and a significant decrease between 2017 and 2018 for women only. No significant changes were found in the overall proportion of AOOD. Men had higher on average proportions of OOD and alcohol-related OOD.
Conclusions:
Proportions of OOD in relation to overdose deaths increased between 2011 and 2020, with a precipitous increase between 2019 and 2020 while the proportion of AOOD remained relatively stable over the period. Alcohol remains a contributing factor in approximately 1 in 5 OODs in Minnesota. These results support the need for accessible, evidence-based prevention and treatment programs to prevent drug overdose.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
H0: The two variables (factors)...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Depressants
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
Opioid Receptors: Overview
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

