An increasing number of African Americans are dying from fentanyl overdoses — what has long been pegged as a problem primarily for white communities, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The deadliest drug in America claimed 18,335 lives in 2016, up drastically from 1,663 in 2011. 

Non-Hispanic white people remain most affected by overall fentanyl overdoses, according to the analysis. African Americans saw the sharpest increase in deaths, rising 140.6 percent each year. Hispanics experienced a jump of 118.3 percent annually. 

“These are pretty astounding numbers in terms of the percentage increase per year,” lead CDC researcher Merianne Spencer told HealthDay News. 

More: Report: Doctors over-prescribed potent fentanyl painkillers to patients

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Overdoses of fentanyl deaths for men also spiked from 2013 to 2016 at 2.8 times the rate for women. 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed to treat pain. A type of fentanyl called Transmucosal Immediate-Release Fentanyl, or TIRF, is 100 times more powerful than morphine. 

Most overdoses are linked to illegally-made fentanyl that is often mixed with heroin, cocaine or other drugs, the CDC notes.  

More: Customs officers make largest fentanyl seizure ever at Arizona border crossing

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