The COVID-19 pandemic and a growing unsafe drug supply combined to push overdose deaths up by 27.6% in the U.S. over a 12-month period from 2020 to 2021, a surge in deaths that was matched in Arizona.
Raminta Daniulaityte is an associate professor in the College of Health Solutions at ASU.
The opioid epidemic continues to be a significant problem in Arizona, according to a new report from the Arizona Public Health Association. That’s despite efforts in 2018 by the Legislature and governor to put a dent in the crisis.
That year, they approved the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, a bipartisan measure which, among other things, put restrictions on the number of opioid pills doctors could prescribe. The new study looked at data from the time that measure became law, and found a slight drop in the number of deaths from prescribed opioids, but an increase in deaths from fentanyl.
With focus on COVID-19, experts fear opioid crisis may worsen unseen azdailysun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from azdailysun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With focus on COVID-19, experts fear opioid crisis may worsen unseen By Olivia Munson | December 21, 2020 at 7:46 AM MST - Updated December 21 at 7:46 AM
WASHINGTON – A deadly epidemic has been on the rise this year in Arizona – but this one has drawn scant media attention.
With the world focused on COVID-19, local and national experts say a growing number of opioid overdoses and deaths is being overlooked.
“COVID-19 has taken up a lot of our space, but oftentimes it’s the way of the world,” said Maya Tatum, secretary of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy board of directors. “It takes over people’s minds and people forget.”
Opioid epidemic receding from public view eastvalleytribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eastvalleytribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.