CDC releases alert on fatal drug overdoses, recommendations for health care field during COVID-19
Drug overdose deaths increased 18% over the 12-month period that ended in May to a record 81,230, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory.
Driving the increase was a 38% surge in deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl), which was highest from March to May and continues to rise as the public health emergency persists, CDC said.
The agency recommends expanding the availability and use of naloxone and overdose prevention education; early intervention with at-risk individuals; and improving detection of overdose outbreaks.
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