Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the world, and the United States is no exception. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdose deaths have been spiking during the pandemic. This is a concerning trend that has been seen in many states across the country. The CDC has released data showing that the number of overdose deaths has increased significantly since the start of the pandemic. This is a worrying trend that needs to be addressed in order to prevent further deaths. In this article, we will discuss the causes of this spike in overdose deaths and what can be done to address the issue.
Overdose Deaths Spiking During COVID, Says CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report showing that overdose deaths have been spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which was released on Wednesday, found that overdose deaths increased by 10.7% from July 2019 to July 2020.
The report found that the increase in overdose deaths was most pronounced in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. In the Midwest, overdose deaths increased by 16.3%, while in the Northeast, overdose deaths increased by 14.2%.
The report also found that the increase in overdose deaths was driven by increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and its analogs. Deaths involving synthetic opioids increased by 24.3% from July 2019 to July 2020.
The CDC report also found that the increase in overdose deaths was driven by increases in deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine. Deaths involving cocaine increased by 18.2%, while deaths involving psychostimulants increased by 16.7%.
The report noted that the increase in overdose deaths was likely due to a number of factors, including the disruption of substance use disorder treatment services due to the pandemic, increased stress and anxiety due to the pandemic, and increased availability of illicit drugs.
The CDC report concluded that the increase in overdose deaths is a “public health crisis” and that “urgent action is needed to prevent further increases in overdose deaths.” The report recommended that states and localities increase access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, expand access to naloxone, and increase access to harm reduction services.
Of the 318,000 American deaths attributed up to now to the coronavirus, there are some not counted as a result of they’re not directly associated to the illness. However they’re no much less actual. “Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the USA within the 12 months ending in Could 2020, the best variety of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month interval, in keeping with current provisional information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC),” the company reported Friday.
“The disruption to each day life because of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit these with substance use dysfunction onerous,” mentioned CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “As we proceed the combat to finish this pandemic, it is vital to not lose sight of various teams being affected in different methods. We have to deal with folks affected by unintended penalties.” Learn on—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Positive Indicators You have Already Had Coronavirus.
Artificial Opioids, Cocaine and Meth Overdoses Elevated
What was the reason for the overdoses? “Artificial opioids (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) look like the first driver of the will increase in overdose deaths, growing 38.4 p.c from the 12-month interval main as much as June 2019 in contrast with the 12-month interval main as much as Could 2020,” says the CDC. “Overdose deaths involving cocaine additionally elevated by 26.5 p.c. Based mostly upon earlier analysis, these deaths are seemingly linked to co-use or contamination of cocaine with illicitly manufactured fentanyl or heroin. Overdose deaths involving psychostimulants, comparable to methamphetamine, elevated by 34.8 p.c. The variety of deaths involving psychostimulants now exceeds the variety of cocaine-involved deaths.”
“The rise in overdose deaths is regarding.” mentioned Deb Houry, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Nationwide Middle for Damage Prevention and Management. “CDC’s Damage Middle continues to assist and help communities responding to the evolving overdose disaster. Our precedence is to do every little thing we will to equip folks on the bottom to avoid wasting lives of their communities.”
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What You Can Do
“Not all overdoses have to finish in loss of life,” says the CDC. “Everybody has a task to play.
- Be taught concerning the dangers of opioids.
- Study naloxone, its availability, and find out how to use it.
- Assist folks scuffling with opioid use dysfunction to search out the proper care and remedy.
- Be taught extra about CDC’s overdose surveillance and prevention efforts in your neighborhood
Be taught extra about what could assist in case you or somebody you care about is growing drug use in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
How one can Survive This Pandemic
As for your self, comply with public well being fundamentals and assist finish this surge, irrespective of the place you reside—put on a face masks, social distance, keep away from giant crowds, do not go indoors with folks you are not sheltering with (particularly in bars), follow good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it turns into out there to you, and search psychological well being care if wanted. And to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Locations You are Most Prone to Catch COVID.