The number of people dying from drug overdoses is rising sharply in America. In the 12 months to April 2021, more than 100,000 people died as a result of drug use. This is a shocking finding, something like this is unparalleled in the US. Compared to the previous year, this is an increase of almost 30%.
Why there has been such a sharp increase in deaths
The sharp rise in cases is mainly due to the growing poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic is associated with social isolation, depression and a reduction in the services people need. People addicted to drugs cannot obtain the necessary medical care and support due to isolation. The number of homeless people has increased in the United States, and the number of cases of fentanyl use has also increased.
Between May 2020 and April 2021, 100,306 Americans died from drug overdoses. It takes a long time to count all the final cases. The CDC previously reported that about 93,000 people died of overdoses in 2020. This is the highest number ever recorded for a calendar year. It is now certain that the number of deaths in 2021 will be significantly higher than 100,000.
The United States has faced a dramatic increase in the number of drug addicts over the past 30 years. Drug overdoses now exceed the number of deaths caused by car accidents, weapons and the flu.
Most people die from a drug called fentanyl
A drug called fentanyl is responsible for a large number of deaths. It is a deadly opioid that has outperformed other dangerous drugs, including heroin. Dealers often mix fentanyl with other drugs and this is also the reason why the number of deaths is rising so sharply. In Illinois, for example, more than 80% of deaths were related to fentanyl overdose.
The death toll has risen in virtually every U.S. state, except Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota. The countries with the largest increases were Vermont (70%), West Virginia (62%) and Kentucky (55%). While the US government plans to take steps to support drug addicts, it is questionable whether such steps will be truly effective. The increase in drug addiction is mainly due to the isolation and economic situation of the people, and the government is not dealing with this very effectively.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm
