Drug Overdoses Hits a Record High in a 12 Month period reported by major news outlet including :

 CNN’s article, “Drug overdose deaths top 100,000 annually for the first time, driven by fentanyl, CDC data show”

New York Times Article, “Overdose Deaths Reached Record High as the Pandemic Spread”

NPR Article, “American drug overdose deaths reach historic record”

All stating that more than 100,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses in the yearlong period ending in April.

The pandemic has been the worst situation for those with substance use disorder. Long periods of isolation and boredom have not been easy and are two main contributing factors for relapses and heavier drinking and drug use often resulting in depression and anxiety as well -- a perfect storm. With the rise of fentanyl, the US has fallen victim to a tremendous amount of fentanyl related overdoses. An already dangerous disease has become even more dangerous and in many circumstances, deadly.

The CNN’s article states, “More than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States during the 12-month period ending April 2021, according to provisional data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That's a new record high, with overdose deaths jumping 28.5% from the same period a year earlier.

Opioids continue to be the driving cause of drug overdose deaths. Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, caused nearly two-thirds (64%) of all drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending April 2021, up 49% from the year before, the CDC's 's National Center for Health Statistics found.”

The New York Times article states, “In the 12-month period that ended in April, more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses, up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths in the prior year, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. The figure marks the first time the number of overdose deaths in the United States has exceeded 100,000 a year, more than the toll of car accidents and guns combined. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015.

Though recent figures through September suggest the rise in deaths may have slowed, the grim threshold nonetheless signals a public health crisis whose magnitude was both obscured by the Covid pandemic and accelerated by it, experts said.

The New York Times  article states, “These are numbers we have never seen before,” Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said of the tally. The fatalities have wide repercussions, since most of them occur among people aged 25 to 55, in the prime of life, she added.”

These overdoses are traumatic and sudden, leaving behind often family members, spouses, children and lives. 

In addition to opioid related overdoses, New York Times  article states, “Overdose deaths related to use of stimulants like methamphetamine, cocaine, and natural and semi-synthetic opioids, such as prescription pain medication, also increased during the 12-month period.” 

This is the time where our support is needed. Friends, family and allies of those with substance use disorder can help spread the word that treatment is available. It is important for those with addiction to not feel alone, helpless and understand help is out there. 

Here at Mitchell Medical, we offer at-home detoxes, medically assisted treatments and personalized tailored programs to ensure our patients longevity and success. 

This is the time to offer help, love and support to those you know who need it. We have all endured a long pandemic that is not over and all need help healing during this process.

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance use disorder, please reach out. Together,  we can figure out the best plan to get you on the track to sobriety and live a happy, healthy life. 

With record shattering overdoses deaths, it is important now more than ever to fight this epidemic and fight fentanyl overdoses and other overdoses with treatment and support.