The opioid class contains the drug heroin and other commonly-prescribed painkillers, like opium oxycodone. 48,006 people overdosed on opioids in 2020. 3.8% of American adults abuse opioids each year. At least 71.8% and as many as 80% of overdose deaths involve opioids. Overdose (OD) deaths involving opioids increased 519.38% from 1999 to 2019.