CDC reports 93,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020

Nearly every state saw a dramatic increase in drug-related deaths last year with a spike of nearly 30 percent nationwide compared to the year before, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Opioids counted for 74.7 percent of overdose deaths. The synthetic opioid fentanyl has taken first place as the predominant drug leading to such deaths, accounting for more than 60 percent. Drug dealers frequently mix the white powder with other drugs to boost effects.

Did the pandemic affect drug use? Lockdowns most likely contributed to increased death rates. People with drug addictions are often told to stay near others when they’re using so someone can revive them if they pass out. Lockdown rules prohibited group gatherings, in-person support, safe injection sites, and some addiction treatment services.

Dig deeper: Listen to Anna Johansen Brown’s report about the debate over supervised drug injection sites on The World and Everything In It.