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| FILE - In this June 17, 2016 file photo, Erika Marble visits the gravesite of Edward Martin III, her fiancé and father of her two children, in Littleton, N.H. The 28-year old died Nov. 30, 2014, from an overdose of the opioid Fentanyl. Drug overdose deaths increased by 33 percent in the past five years across the U.S. as of 2016. New Hampshire saw a 191 percent increase while Massachusetts, North Dakota, Connecticut and Maine saw death rates jump by more than 100 percent.(AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) |
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Drug overdose deaths have
increased by 33 percent in the past five years across the country, with some
states seeing jumps of nearly 200 percent.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 30 states saw increases in overdose deaths resulting from the abuse
of heroin and prescription painkillers, a class of drugs known as opioids. New
Hampshire saw a 191 percent increase while North Dakota, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Maine had death rates jump by over 100 percent.
"Too many Americans are feeling the devastation of
the opioid crisis either from misuse of prescription opioids or use of illicit
opioids," said Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the CDC. "Urgent action is
needed to help health care providers treat pain safely and treat opioid use
disorder effectively, support law enforcement strategies to reduce the
availability of illicit opiates, and support states to develop and implement
programs that can save lives."
Last year, more than 52,000 people died from drug
overdoses, with almost two-thirds involving prescription or illegal opioids.
Deaths from synthetic opioids, including illicit fentanyl, rose 73 percent, to
9,580. And prescription painkillers took the highest toll but posted the
smallest increase. Abuse of drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin killed 17,536, an
increase of 4 percent.
In comparison, the number of people who died in car
crashes was 37,757, an increase of 12 percent. Gun deaths, including homicides
and suicides, totaled 36,252, up 7 percent.
The CDC report also included death certificate data for
opioid overdoses in 28 states, finding that 16 saw a jump in death rates from
synthetic opioids including illicit fentanyl. New York (135.7 percent),
Connecticut (125.9 percent) and Illinois (120 percent) were the hardest hit. As
for heroin deaths, 11 states had increases, with South Carolina (57.1 percent),
North Carolina (46.4 percent) and Tennessee (43.5 percent) seeing the biggest
spike.
The Northeast has been hit especially hard by the drug
crisis, with New Hampshire among those suffering the most. Just this year,
overdose deaths were expected to top 500. The state's congressional delegation
was among those supporting a bill that will provide $1 billion in funding to
states to fight heroin and opioid abuse.
Heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers are the
primary drivers of addiction in recent years.
"Obviously the fact that 500 people are going to succumb
to addiction this year is just a terrible tragedy," said Republican Jeb
Bradley, the state Senate majority leader. "It reminds us all that we have
to make sure that we ... monitor carefully what's working and what isn't and be
prepared as we come back in January to address this issue."
AP
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