Hospitalizations

Opioid Hospitalizations in Los Angeles County

According to HCAI data, there were a total of 181,613 hospitalizations in LAC from 2015-2024 that listed opioids as a diagnosis (abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning) or external-cause-of-injury. Opioid-related hospitalizations decreased by 21% from 2016 to 2022, but increased 13% from 2022 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total number of opioid-related hospitalizations was 18,028 (Figure 1).

About 15% of opioid-related hospitalizations listed opioids as the principal diagnosis or principal external-cause-of-injury between 2015-2024. Primary opioid hospitalizations increased by 63% from 2015 to 2023, then dropped by 22% from 2023 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total number of primary opioid-related hospitalizations was 2,657 (Figure 2).

Among opioid poisoning hospitalizations that specified opioid type, prescription (Rx) opioids (including natural/semi-synthetic opioids, methadone, and synthetic opioids) were the most frequently reported opioid type in 2016-2024 (Figures 3, 4).

Synthetic opioid poisoning hospitalizations have been rapidly increasing since 2016, but decreased 27% from 2023 to 2024. Heroin poisoning hospitalizations increased from 2006, peaking in 2018, then decreased every year from 2018-2024 (Figures 1, 2).

Opioid Hospitalizations by SPA

In 2024, the South Bay region (SPA 8) had the highest rate per 100,000 of all opioid-related hospitalizations; however, primary opioid hospitalizations were highest in the West region (SPA 5).

The Antelope Valley region (SPA 1) and the Metro region (SPA 4) had the highest rates of opioid poisoning hospitalizations, for all opioid types (Figure 5). 

Figure 5. Opioid hospitalizations per 100,000 population by SPA, opioid type, and diagnosis type, LAC, 2024

Source: HCAI

Instructions:

Make a selection at the top of the maps to compare hospitalization rates by SPA, opioid type, and diagnosis type.

Demographics

Overall, of all opioid-related hospitalizations in 2016-2024, adults aged 45-64 (35%) was the largest age group, followed by adults aged 65+ (27%). 

Each older age group consistently had more natural/semi-synthetic opioid poisoning hospitalizations throughout 2016-2024 (Figures 6-7).

From 2016-2023, hospitalizations for poisoning by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl increased dramatically for all age groups, particularly those aged 26-34, then decreased for all age groups in 2024. 

Hospitalizations for poisoning increased from 2022 to 2023, but fell in 2024 for all age groups (Figures 8-9).

From 2016-2024, males accounted for more opioid-related hospitalizations than females. The gender disparity was wider for primary opioid hospitalizations. 

The gender disparity differed by opioid poisoning types. While hospitalizations for poisoning by heroin in males were triple (3.2 times) that of females and double (2.5 times) for synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, hospitalizations for poisoning by natural/semi-synthetic opioid poisoning was nearly the same among males and females from 2016-2024 (Figures 10-11).

Hospitalizations for both synthetic and natural/semi-synthetic opioid poisoning had been higher among females up until 2017 and 2018 respectively, then rapid increases began among males. In 2024, males had nearly triple (2.9 times) the number of hospitalizations for primary synthetic opioid poisoning, and nearly double (1.9 times) the number of hospitalizations for primary natural/semi-synthetic opioid poisoning. Males consistently accounted for about three quarters of heroin poisoning hospitalizations from 2016-2023, and were the only gender reported in 2024 (Figure 12-13).

Whites accounted for the largest proportion of all opioid hospitalizations every year since 2016. From 2016 to 2024, the number of primary opioid hospitalizations decreased among Whites (by 38%), while increasing for Hispanic/Latinos (by 95%) and Blacks (by 44%) (Figures 14-15).  

Hispanic/Latinos have emerged as one of the largest race/ethnicities for opioid poisoning hospitalizations, surpassing Whites in 2023, and remaining close in 2024. While Hispanic/Latinos had a more rapid increase in hospitalizations for poisoning by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, they had a slower decrease in hospitalizations for poisoning by heroin from 2016-2024 compared to Whites (Figures 16-17).

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), or drug withdrawal symptoms in newborns, can occur if the mother uses opioids during pregnancy.

Newborns hospitalized with NAS increased 38% from 2015 to 2017, decreased in 2018, then had increasing trends through 2024 (Figure 18).

Economic Burden of Opioids

From 2015-2024, patients hospitalized for all opioid-related conditions stayed in the hospital for an average of 6.7 days, and accounted for 1,213,720 total hospital days.

The mean hospital charge for each opioid-related hospitalization in LAC was $118,810, increasing from $83,966 in 2015 to $132,553 in 2024. 

The annual opioid-related hospital spending increased from $1.4 billion in 2015 to $2.4 billion in 2024, and resulted in a total of $21.6 billion in total spending from 2015-2024 (Figure 19).

Mean length of stay: 6.7 days

Total hospital days: 1,213,720

Mean hospital charge: $118,810

Total hospital spending: $21.6 billion

Notes: Hospitalizations for less than 1 day were counted as having a length of stay of 1 day. All costs were adjusted for inflation to 2024 US dollars.

References

Figures 1-19. Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data, 2015-2024. California Department of Public Health.