States With the Most Fentanyl Overdose Deaths
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Fentanyl overdose deaths are rapidly increasing in the U.S., more than doubling in the past two years in 30 states, according to a new report.
Fentanyl overdose deaths have rapidly increased in the U.S., more than doubling in the past two years in 30 states, according to a new analysis from Families Against Fentanyl based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The highly potent and potentially deadly drug fentanyl is increasingly showing up in batches of heroin, cocaine and counterfeit prescription drugs and driving overdose deaths across the country.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, was created to treat cancer patients. However, because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also abused, often resulting in overdose deaths, according to the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to the report, the states with the highest fentanyl deaths last year were:
- Florida
- California
- Ohio
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New Jersey
The report found that among teens, fentanyl poisoning deaths are rising even faster. Teen deaths tripled in the last two years and among Black teens, deaths are five times higher than they were two years ago.
The states where fentanyl deaths rose the most over a two-year period are:
- Alaska – 385%
- Colorado – 382%
- Louisiana – 378%
- Mississippi – a 373%
- California – 370%
- Texas – 350%
- Oregon – 303%
- Kansas – 303%
- Idaho – 283%
- Alabama – 271%
“It is time to attack fentanyl overdoses with the same vigor and approaches as we do the coronavirus. It is heartbreaking to treat babies who overdosed or people who had no idea their pills or powder was contaminated with a deadly poison,” Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency physician and former chief medical officer of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the organization.
Families Against Fentanyl analyzed CDC data from June 2020 to May 2021 to find where and among which groups fentanyl poisoning deaths are rising the fastest. For more information from the report click here.
Andre Claudio is an assistant editor at Route Fifty.
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