Written by Steve B | Updated on Oct 20, 2024
In recent years, the landscape of the opioid crisis in the United States has been evolving, with some encouraging signs of progress coupled with concerning new developments. A recent article by Tim Henderson for the Alaska Beacon highlights these shifting trends, particularly the westward movement of the crisis.
National Progress, Regional Concerns
While the national picture shows some improvement, with overdose deaths decreasing by 10% in the year ending April 2024, the situation in many Western states is becoming increasingly dire. States like Alaska, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon have moved into the top 10 for rates of overdose deaths since 2019.
Key Points:
1. Alaska’s Alarming Surge: Alaska now has the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths nationally, with a staggering 42% increase from 2023.
2. Western States’ Challenge: Nevada, Washington, and Oregon have also seen significant increases in overdose death rates.
3. Eastern States’ Improvement: States like Nebraska, North Carolina, Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have seen substantial decreases in overdose deaths.
The Fentanyl Factor
The westward shift of the crisis is largely attributed to the spread of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Daliah Heller, vice president of the overdose prevention program at Vital Strategies, notes that fentanyl’s spread has followed a clear east-to-west pattern across traditional drug markets.
Methamphetamine: A Growing Concern
Interestingly, the article points out that methamphetamine is increasingly becoming a factor in overdose deaths, often in combination with opioids like fentanyl. In Nevada, nearly a third of overdoses involve both types of drugs.
Expert Opinions
Experts quoted in the article, including Nabarun Dasgupta from the University of North Carolina’s Injury Prevention Research Center, suggest that the improvements seen in some Eastern states might be due to better acceptance of harm reduction policies or increased wariness of fentanyl among users.
Information from this article found via an article at the Alaska Beacon
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