『Cautious Optimism as Opioid Epidemic Shows First National Decline in 5 Years』のカバーアート

Cautious Optimism as Opioid Epidemic Shows First National Decline in 5 Years

Cautious Optimism as Opioid Epidemic Shows First National Decline in 5 Years

無料で聴く

ポッドキャストの詳細を見る

このコンテンツについて

 Listeners, the opioid epidemic remains a public health crisis affecting millions of Americans, but the most recent news offers a glimmer of hope: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of opioid-involved deaths in the United States declined by 4% from 2022 to 2023—marking the first national decrease since 2018. Still, approximately 105,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2023, with opioids involved in nearly 80,000 of these deaths.

For context, the opioid epidemic has unfolded in three distinct waves over the past 25 years. It started in the late 1990s, driven by increased prescriptions for pain relievers. The second wave began around 2010 with surging heroin deaths. The third wave erupted in 2013 when illicitly manufactured fentanyl and related synthetic opioids entered the drug supply. Fentanyl, which is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is often mixed with other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills, making overdoses more likely and harder to predict.

Recent data show regional disparities. DrugAbuseStatistics reports that West Virginia continues to have the highest rate of opioid deaths per capita, at 71.6 deaths per 100,000 people, while Washington D.C. and West Virginia have the highest rates of synthetic opioid deaths. Meanwhile, New Hampshire shows the highest share of overdose deaths overall involving opioids.

The crisis also impacts newborns and communities in other ways. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, where babies are born dependent on opioids, reaches nearly 7% of births in West Virginia. Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS rates linked to intravenous opioid use remain elevated in several states as well.

Experts point out that synthetic opioids—especially illicit fentanyl—now drive most fatal overdoses. These drugs accounted for roughly 69% of opioid overdose deaths in 2023. The CDC highlights that heroin deaths fell by about a third compared to the previous year, and prescription opioid deaths dropped nearly 12%. This shift is partly due to changing drug supplies and increased awareness about the risks of prescription painkillers and heroin.

Public health officials warn that the latest decline does not mean the battle is won. The CDC emphasizes that multi-drug overdoses are frequent, with almost half involving both opioids and stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine. New threats are also emerging, such as the addition of animal sedatives like xylazine into street drugs

Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs

For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
まだレビューはありません