Drug overdose deaths reach all-time high, Michigan’s increase ‘significant’

Drug overdose deaths surged in 14 states previous year, pushing the nation to a record count, according to a government report released Friday.

The states with the highest rate of deaths resulted from opioid overdose are Ohio, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico and West Virginia. Since the turn of the century, the rate of deaths from overdoses has skyrocketed 137 percent, while the rate for deaths involving opioids has jumped 200 percent.

“Rates of opioid overdose deaths also increased significantly, from 7.9 per 100,000 in 2013 to 9.0 per 100,000 in 2014, a 14% increase”.

The alarming rise, which the CDC calls an epidemic in their report, is attributed in large part to opioids, such as certain pain relievers and heroin. CDC analyzed recent multiple cause-of-death mortality data to examine current trends and characteristics of drug overdose deaths, including the types of opioids associated with drug overdose deaths. Almost half a million lives have been lost to opioid drug overdoses since then.

Drug overdose deaths were about 1.5 times more common than auto crash fatalities a year ago, said the report.

According to the CDC, the way to curb the epidemic of drug abuse is to limit the amount of narcotic painkillers being prescribed; to increase the availability of addiction treatment, including medication-assisted treatment; and to expand access and use of naloxone – a drug that reverses the symptoms of a narcotic overdose.

Illicitly made fentanyl, a short-acting opioid that is sometimes added to heroin and can make it far more potent, is believed to be responsible for thousands of deaths per year.

Drug overdoses are killing more people in the U.S. now than ever before.

The CDC report described the drug overdose deaths as an “emerging threat to public health and safety”. People with the highest risk of using heroin are those who became dependent or who abused prescription opioids during the past year. Deaths from heroin overdoses rose 26%.

In sheer numbers, California – the most populous state – had the most overdose deaths a year ago, with more than 4,500.

“This report also shows how important it is that law enforcement intensify efforts to reduce the availability of heroin, illegal fentanyl, and other illegal opioids”.

The health agency has also provided guidelines for general practitioners that urge them to be more cautious about the medications they prescribe for chronic pain.

The CDC is now in the midst of a battle over prescription drugs.