StatisticsMental Health and Substance Use in Los Angeles County: Key Statistics. Sourced public numbers on overdose, suicide, mental illness and youth wellbeing, with the year for every figure and what it means for families.

A guide from The Blackburn Group. Last reviewed October 2026. Every number on this page comes from a public government source, linked beside it. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

The short version

Drug overdose and poisoning deaths in Los Angeles County fell 22% in 2024, from 3,137 deaths in 2023 to 2,438, the largest drop in county history, according to LA County Public Health. At the same time, about 1 in 5 California adults had a mental illness in the past year (2023 to 2024), and more than 4,300 county residents died by suicide from 2018 through 2022. Each figure is linked to its source further down this page.

We built this page so families, reporters, schools and community groups can find the key public numbers for Los Angeles County in one place, with a link to the original source for each.

A few notes on reading these numbers:

Years differ. Agencies publish on different schedules, so some figures are from 2024 and others are older. We give the year for each.
Some numbers are for California, not just LA County. The national drug use survey publishes state estimates, not county estimates. We label which is which.
Numbers get revised. LA County first reported 3,092 overdose deaths for 2023, then updated that count to 3,137 in its 2025 report. We use the latest published figure and note the change.

How to cite this page: The Blackburn Group, “Mental Health and Substance Use in Los Angeles County: Key Statistics,” updated October 2026, https://theblackburngroup.org/guides/mental-health-and-addiction-statistics-los-angeles/. When possible, also cite the original source linked beside each number.

Overdose deaths in LA County

After a decade of sharp increases, overdose deaths in Los Angeles County leveled off in 2023 and fell sharply in 2024.

2024: 2,438 drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths in LA County, down 22% from 2023. LA County Public Health called it the most significant decline in the county’s history. (LA County Public Health, June 2025)
Fentanyl, 2024: fentanyl-related deaths fell 37% compared with 2023. (LA County Public Health, June 2025)
Methamphetamine, 2024: methamphetamine-related deaths fell 20% compared with 2023. (LA County Public Health, June 2025)
2023: 3,137 overdose and poisoning deaths, as reported in June 2025. (LA County Public Health, June 2025)
2022: 3,220 overdose and poisoning deaths. Public Health said 2023 was the first year deaths went down since 2014, after increases of over 300% over the past decade. (LA County Public Health, July 2024)

Who is most affected: in 2024, fentanyl overdose deaths in LA County were most common among adults ages 40 to 64, followed by adults ages 26 to 39. Males accounted for more fentanyl deaths than females. Black residents were overrepresented in overdose and poisoning deaths, while Latino and White residents had the highest total numbers. (LA County Public Health, June 2025)

Even after the 2024 drop, that is still more than 2,400 lives in one year, or roughly 6 to 7 deaths a day on average. Our guide on fentanyl and naloxone explains what families can do.

Suicide in LA County

Suicide is a steady, serious loss in Los Angeles County, and it is often preventable with timely support.

2018 to 2022: more than 4,300 LA County residents died by suicide, an average of 16 residents each week. (LA County Public Health, Suicides Data Factsheet 2018 to 2022)
Sex, 2018 to 2022: 78% of people who died by suicide were male. (same source)
Age, 2018 to 2022: rates were highest among people ages 55 to 64 (11.9 per 100,000) and 65 and older (11.7 per 100,000). (same source)
Method, 2022: firearms were the most common cause of suicide deaths in LA County in 2022. (same source)

If you are worried about someone, call or text 988. Reducing access to firearms and stockpiled medicines during a hard time is one of the most practical steps a family can take.

Mental illness in California

These estimates come from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), run by SAMHSA. It reports state estimates, so these numbers cover all of California.

Any mental illness, adults, 2023 to 2024: 21.6% of California adults, about 6.56 million people, had a mental illness in the past year. The U.S. figure was 23.1%. (SAMHSA NSDUH 2023 and 2024, via KFF)
Serious mental illness, adults, 2023 to 2024: 4.8% of California adults, about 1.44 million people. (SAMHSA NSDUH 2023 and 2024, via KFF)
Major depressive episode, ages 12 to 17, 2023 to 2024: 15.8% of California adolescents, about 481,000 teens. (SAMHSA NSDUH 2023 and 2024, via KFF)

Substance use in California

Substance use disorders are common, and most families in California know someone affected.

Substance use disorder, ages 12 and older, 2022 to 2023: 17.1% of Californians, about 5.68 million people, had a substance use disorder in the past year. The U.S. figure was 17.2%. (SAMHSA NSDUH 2022 and 2023, via KFF)
Illicit drug use in the past month, ages 12 and older, 2023 to 2024: 16.74% of Californians. Among young adults ages 18 to 25, it was 28.47%. (SAMHSA, 2023 to 2024 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates)
Marijuana use in the past year, ages 12 to 17, 2023 to 2024: 9.89% of California adolescents. (same source)

In this survey, “illicit drug use” includes marijuana, which is legal for adults 21 and older in California. For a closer look at teens, see teen cannabis and vaping.

Children in LA County

The Los Angeles County Health Survey asks parents how often their children seem sad or worried. The 2023 results show that many children carry these feelings regularly.

Worry and anxiety, ages 5 to 17, 2023: 14.3% of LA County children, about 213,000, were reported to feel worried, nervous or anxious daily or weekly. (LA County Public Health, 2023 LA County Health Survey)
Sadness and depression, ages 5 to 17, 2023: 5.7% of LA County children, about 84,000, were reported to feel sad or depressed daily or weekly. Another 31.9% felt this monthly or a few times a year. (LA County Public Health, 2023 LA County Health Survey)

For what to watch for at home, see signs a teen needs mental health support.

What this means for families

Numbers like these can feel heavy. The calmer reading is that you are far from alone, and that help works.

If someone you love is struggling, these figures say a few useful things.

This is common. Roughly 1 in 5 adults in California has a mental illness in a given year, and about 1 in 6 people has a substance use disorder. Struggling is not a personal failure or a family secret. It is a health problem, and it is treatable.
Things can change. The 22% drop in LA County overdose deaths in 2024 shows that trends are not fixed. Prevention and treatment can make a real difference.
Small steps matter. Keeping naloxone at home, storing medicines and firearms safely, and knowing the number 988 are simple steps any family can take today.
Look at the whole person. Mental health and substance use often go together. Our guide on co-occurring disorders explains why care works best when both are addressed.
Family support helps. Families who get support for themselves are better able to stay steady. See support for families.

For a list of free public resources, see our Los Angeles mental health and addiction resources directory.

Sources

Original sources for every number on this page.

Next steps

If these numbers have you thinking about someone you love, a short conversation can help you decide what to do next.

Our Where to start page walks through the options, and our page for families explains how we work with loved ones. You can also call us at (888) 305-5422 or email info@theblackburngroup.org.

If someone is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In an emergency, call 911.

Related guides

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Questions

How many people died of overdoses in Los Angeles County in 2024?

LA County Public Health reported 2,438 drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths in 2024, down 22% from 3,137 in 2023. Fentanyl-related deaths fell 37% and methamphetamine-related deaths fell 20%.

Why are some numbers for California and not LA County?

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the main federal survey on mental illness and substance use, publishes estimates by state, not by county. We use LA County numbers wherever the county publishes them and label state numbers clearly.

Can I use these numbers in my own article or presentation?

Yes. Please cite the original government source linked beside each number. You may also cite this page as: The Blackburn Group, updated October 2026.

How often is this page updated?

We review it when LA County, California or SAMHSA release new data. The date at the top shows the last review. Always check the original source for the most current figures.

Not sure where to start? Call us.

Call(888) 305-5422

Emailinfo@theblackburngroup.org