CONCORD, N.H. — Drug overdose deaths have increased by 33 per cent in the past five years across the country, with some states seeing jumps of nearly 200 per cent.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 states saw increases in overdose deaths resulting from the abuse of heroin and prescription painkillers, a class of drugs known as opioids. New Hampshire saw a 191 per cent increase while North Dakota, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine had death rates jump by over 100 per cent.

Last year, more than 52,000 people died from drug overdoses, with almost two-thirds involving prescription or illegal opioids. Sixteen states saw a jump in deaths from synthetic opioids including illicit fentanyl, with New York (135.7 per cent) and Connecticut (125.9 per cent) the hardest hit.

Michael Casey, The Associated Press