Newly released figures show that every state in New England except Connecticut experienced a rise in drug overdose deaths in 2022.
Maine led the way with an almost 20% increase in deaths. New Hampshire witnessed its worst year since 2017, with a 15% increase.
What’s driving the increase?
Fentanyl.
Deaths in the U.S. caused by fentanyl have doubled in the last three years.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports seizing over 379 million doses of the drug in 2022… enough fentanyl to kill everyone in the U.S.
And that 379 million doses represent only what was seized… not what was in circulation.
What makes fentanyl so deadly?
It’s 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. Two tiny milligram doses can kill an adult.
According to experts at Ohio State University, “fentanyl kills by disrupting your ability to breathe and decreasing the amount of oxygen that gets to the brain, causing hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma, brain damage, or even death.”
The risk of dying from fentanyl if one sniffs, smokes, swallows or injects the drug are high.
So, where are most of the drugs coming from?
According to the DEA, most of it is being “mass-produced in factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China.”
Again, according to Ohio State University, “if exposed to fentanyl, (one) should seek medical attention immediately. One should also obtain an opioid overdose reversal kit (also called a naloxone or Narcan kit) from your doctor or pharmacy in case of emergency.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol and need help in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. And we come to you, regardless of where you live. Our unique in-home treatment model of care gives clients a significantly better chance of recovery compared to traditional inpatient rehab care. Please get in touch with one of our Recovery Specialists to learn more.
