Often buried beneath news of the global pandemic and political discord, the ongoing opioid crisis continues unabated. Isolation, loss of income, and treatment center closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the increase of fatal overdoses.
September’s National Recovery Month continues to spotlight this health emergency and promote the benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery, especially during a pandemic that has seen an increase in overdose fatalities. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) studies, fatalities are trending upward by as much as 18%, following a year of 71,000 deaths.
Although too soon for definitive data, AAMC points out that alcohol sales have risen by 25%, and there is a worrisome trend of overdose from increased non prescribed fentanyl. The National Institute on Drug Reports that 90% of all drug fatalities in Maryland are from opioids (15,000 in 2018).
The Spy caught up with Kent County Sheriff John Price to find out how law enforcement is participating with National Recovery Month and how the pandemic has required alternative paths to reach out to the community.
This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about International Recovery Day please go here.
Chuck Engstrom says
I am very doubtful of your statistic of 15,000 for 2018 opioid deaths in Maryland. That’s 41 deaths per day. https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/maryland-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms reports 2087 opioid deaths. Maryland reports similar figures at https://bha.health.maryland.gov/Documents/Annual_2018_Drug_Intox_Report.pdf. But neither of these come anywhere near 15,000.
Where did you get this nice round number?
James Dissette says
Correction, thanks: The National Institute on Drug Reports that 90% of all drug fatalities nationally are from opioids (15,000 in 2018).