In the state of California, overdose deaths have skyrocketed over the past few years. New research shows the numbers are higher than previously believed, with a 43% increase for drug overdoses in California. Those numbers are already higher than 2021. In 2021, California had an increase of over 6,000 deaths 2020. Over 10,000 people have died from an overdose in 2021.
Fentanyl: More Often Than Not, A Killer Drug
Fentanyl is consistently seen in overdose deaths in California. However, law enforcement believes that a lot of people ingest the drug by accident. Drug dealers often try to pass fentanyl off as Oxycontin, which is increasingly difficult for people to find on the street. They also frequently add it to other drugs such as heroin to make it stronger. However, novice users often take these drugs and have no tolerance for them. This often becomes a tragic overdose that is difficult to reverse.
Fentanyl has also been added to an incredible variety of drugs in the US.
“The issue with Fentanyl, of course, is that rarely do we see Fentanyl in its true form,” said Sgt. Robert Pair with the Bakersfield Police Department.
“It’s either in, nonpharmaceutical pills, so fake Vicodin, fake Oxycontin, so people are taking one thing and in reality, they are getting something that of course can potentially kill them,” said Pair. It’s even turned up in molly pills, cocaine, and methamphetamine supplies.
Addiction Recovery During the Pandemic
Addiction recovery resources have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, for some people, the changes and isolation may have led to relapse.
Resources for people during the pandemic have been limited during the pandemic. Many people in recovery found it challenging to limit their interactions to online 12-step meetings. The community experienced a lot of loss and stories of relapse.
However, there is still hope. May harm reduction proponents say that people are willing to stay safer and use fentanyl testing kits when available. Other lifesaving tools such as Narcan are invaluable, but they have to get into the right hands.
Recovery is still available to those who get it, but people in the industry need to continue to offer outreach tools. For example, using SMS, video calls, and other outreach can help people in recovery stay motivated and feel social.
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