DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE U.S. REMAIN AT NEAR RECORD LEVELS. ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL DATA BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, MORE THAN 109,000 PEOPLE DIED OF A DRUG OVERDOSE IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING MARCH 2022. ANNUAL OVERDOSE DEATHS REACHED RECORD LEVELS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE LATEST FIGURE IS A 44 PERCENT JUMP FROM TWO YEARS EARLIER, WHEN THERE WERE ABOUT 76,000 DEATHS REPORTED IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN MARCH 2020. SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, INCLUDING FENTANYL, WERE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE YEAR ENDING IN MARCH 2022. DEATHS INVOLVING SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS INCREASED BY A WHOPPING 80 PERCENT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
