Members of the U.S. National Guard who engage in direct combat face higher rates of heavy drinking and binge drinking than those not deployed. Reservists, unlike active-duty military personnel, have limited access to behavioral health centers and lack the necessary help and treatment. Read more here.
National News
‘It’s a no-brainer’: Rising adolescent overdoses prompt calls for school to stock naloxone
The rise in drug overdoses among teens has caused school nurses to request naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose, for their campus medical supplies. Schools stock emergency equipment from fire extinguishers to defibrillators and now they’re seeing a need to supply naloxone, as well. Read[Read More…]
Black Americans are now dying from drug overdoses at a higher rate than whites
While the first wave of the opioid epidemic disproportionately impacted white Americans, Black Americans are now facing higher rates of overdose fatalities. In 2021, fatal overdoses across the U.S. surpassed 100,000 for the first time, with death rates rising the most among Black Americans. Read more here.
States Across the Country Want to Prevent Fentanyl from Crossing International Borders
16 states, including Kentucky have joined together to urge the U.S. State Department to take actions to stop fentanyl from reaching the United States. According to Kentucky’s Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, nearly 71% of overdose deaths in Kentucky throughout 2020 involved fentanyl. Read more here.
Despite Large Overdose Numbers in the U.S., New Research Revealed That Americans Can Heal
Recently released Federal data showed that over 101,000 Americans died of overdoses over the course of a year. One study focused on recovery success discovered that three out of four people recovered from addiction after they received help . Read more here.
Consumption of Alcohol has Increased Since the Start of the Pandemic
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) projected that 100 more Americans will die from increased alcohol consumption caused by the pandemic. MGH researchers also expect 2,300 Americans will experience liver failure by 2023. Read more here.
Landmark Opioid Trial finds a pharmaceutical company liable for their role in the opioid epidemic
In December 2021 a jury found the American division of Teva Pharmaceuticals liable for their contribution to the opioid epidemic. Their role included ignoring internal safeguards that would have prevented them from inundating the market with opiates and not properly advertising the risks related to opioids. Read more here.
New report reveals that Medicare beneficiaries are not receiving medication to treat opioid use disorder
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) recently released a report mid-December of 2021. The data found that Medicare beneficiaries were not receiving medication to treat their opioid use disorder. Within the report, the data showed that in 2020, over 1 million[Read More…]
The opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of over a million Americans
National Center for Health Statistics, a branch of the CDC, released data that found between 1999 and 2020, 932,364 Americans died from drug overdoses. The data also revealed that nearly 100,000 overdose deaths occurred in 2021. The age groups that had the highest drug overdose deaths were those between the ages[Read More…]
The mental health crisis in the U.S. silently grows
Individuals trying to access treatment and resources to address their mental health needs was already difficult before the pandemic. Staffing shortages, limited access to care, and isolation have contributed to increased mental health issues. Read more here.