When someone dies of an overdose, it is up to the medical examiner or coroner to determine whether the overdose was intentional (purposely self-inflicted) or unintentional.

Unintentional is described as: (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

• a drug being taken accidentally
• too much of a drug was taken accidentally
• the wrong drug was given or taken in error
• an accident occurred in the use of a drug(s) in medical and surgical procedures 

According to Dr. Nora Volkow in her article published Sept. 19, 2019, "Suicide Deaths are a Major Component of the Opioid Crisis That Must Be Addressed", this aspect of the opioid crisis gets too little attention. She explains the challenge of determining whether a death is due to suicide or overdose. According to a study in a Flint, Michigan emergency department, 39% of those whose worst overdose had involved an opioid or sedative reported wanting to die or not caring about the risks. with another 15% reporting that they were unsure of their intentions.

How sad is it that someone who has a severe addiction will consider suicide as the only way out? The degree of despair that will drive someone to end it all cannot be understood unless you find yourself in this condition. Try to picture yourself being diagnosed with a serious cancer.  Your friends and family gather around you to love and support you through the treatments you must suffer through. When your serious condition is addiction, instead of getting support and love from your family and friends, you suffer from fear, guilt, shame, embarassment, and a deep feeling of unworthiness. Any friends and family that haven't left do not know how to help you. They look at you with fear and hurt in their eyes. Your brain has a hard time sorting this out because it likely has suffered some brain damage from years of trauma. No one should have to go through this alone. Nor should the family.