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http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/401961-cdc-drug-overdoses-hit-new-high-in-2017
More than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new record.
The CDC recorded a 6.6 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses from 2016, but noted that the preliminary numbers likely underestimate the final death toll.
More than 40,000 people died from opioid overdoses last year, and nearly 30,000 people died from overdoses of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl. The overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids rose sharply from 2016, while deaths from heroin, prescription opioid pills and methadone fell, the CDC said.
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I have a paging receiver tuned to my county's fire & EMS alerting channel. Even here in upper middle class suburban Phila I hear 3-4 OD calls each day. These aren't skid row junkies. These are teens & young adults. The EMS ambulances all carry the opioid antagonist medicine NARCAN for use on these calls. I wonder how many lives they actually save & how many repeat ODers they encounter.
More than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new record.
The CDC recorded a 6.6 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses from 2016, but noted that the preliminary numbers likely underestimate the final death toll.
More than 40,000 people died from opioid overdoses last year, and nearly 30,000 people died from overdoses of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl. The overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids rose sharply from 2016, while deaths from heroin, prescription opioid pills and methadone fell, the CDC said.
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I have a paging receiver tuned to my county's fire & EMS alerting channel. Even here in upper middle class suburban Phila I hear 3-4 OD calls each day. These aren't skid row junkies. These are teens & young adults. The EMS ambulances all carry the opioid antagonist medicine NARCAN for use on these calls. I wonder how many lives they actually save & how many repeat ODers they encounter.