With 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021, the United States has recorded a new alarming increase

This is an alarming increase: the United States has estimated 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021, an increase of 15% over the previous year, according to preliminary data released by U.S. health officials on Wednesday, May 11th.

These figures show that one person dies from overdose every five minutes in the country. Of those deaths, more than 70,000 were linked to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is followed by natural or semi-synthetic opiates such as methamphetamine (over 30,000 deaths), cocaine (approximately 25,000) and heroin (approximately 13,000). Many drugs can cause the same death.

America surpassed for the first time Shocking number of 100,000 dead By taking an overdose for more than twelve months in April 2021. The 15% increase recorded in 2021 is less than the 30% increase recorded between 2019 and 2020.

The Covit-19 crisis in question

Experts say the US opiate crisis has been exacerbated by the Govt-19 epidemic, which has increased the isolation of some people. The biggest increase in 2021 was seen in Alaska, where deaths increased by more than 75%.

Fentanyl, the most addictive and cheapest to manufacture, is increasingly being mixed with other drugs by traffickers, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It is also included in counterfeit pills such as painkillers sold on the internet.

In late April, Joe Biden’s government announced an action plan to combat the crisis, focusing on two areas: greater concern for dependents and the fight against drug trafficking. In particular, the US government wants to emphasize the so-called procedures “Risk reduction”Distribution of naloxone (an alternative drug capable of resuscitating opioid overdose), such as testing for the presence or absence of fentanyl, or plans to clean used needles.

It wants to improve access to treatment (such as methadone and buprenorphine). “We will double the number of treatment admixtures for people at risk of dying from overdose.”Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the office responsible for the fight against drugs at the White House, promised at a press conference in April.