More than 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose between March 2021 and March 2022, according to data provided last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number represents a 28% increase from the year before. Most of the deaths (66%) were attributed to overdoses of synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Psychostimulants (mostly methamphetamine), cocaine, and prescription pain medications (natural and semi-synthetic opioids) accounted for most of the other overdoses.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says the rising epidemic of deaths by substance abuse has worsened during the pandemic, affecting Americans of all ages, races, and ethnicities:
• The COVID-19 pandemic and disruption in access to prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services likely contributed to this increase.
• Recent increases have been largely driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl and altered forms of fentanyl.
• Counties with greater income inequality (a large income gap between rich and poor) had higher rates of overdose deaths.
• Overdose rates [from 2019-2020 data] increased by 44 percent for black people and 39 percent for American Indian and Alaska Natives.
• Most people who died from an overdose had no evidence of substance use treatment before their deaths.
• Evidence of previous documented treatment was lower among people from racial and ethnic minority groups, compared with white people.
Overdose is the leading cause of death in adults between the ages of 18 and 45. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration identifies fentanyl as the biggest culprit:
The DEA describes the many ways the drug can be abused in its Fentanyl Fact Sheet:
Fentanyl can be injected, snorted/sniffed, smoked, taken orally by pill or tablet, and spiked onto blotter paper. Fentanyl patches are abused by removing its gel contents and then injecting or ingesting these contents. Patches have also been frozen, cut into pieces, and placed under the tongue or in the cheek cavity. Illicitly produced fentanyl is sold alone or in combination with heroin and other substances and has been identified in counterfeit pills, mimicking pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone [labeled “M30″].
In August, the DEA issued a public advisory warning about “an alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl available across the United States.”
Dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, this trend appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people
Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that resembles sidewalk chalk. Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through DEA’s laboratory testing that this is the case. Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.
Jacqueline Howard spoke to an expert who also must be able to read the minds of parents learning about “rainbow fentanyl” for the first time:
“I think the big difference people are concerned about is with regard to accidental ingestion. People are worried that their kids will take one of these pills thinking they’re another drug or even thinking they’re some sort of candy,” [NYU professor Joseph] Palamar said. “I don’t think the color of the pills greatly increases danger to people who don’t use fentanyl, but there is always a possibility of someone who uses fentanyl leaving their pills around in the reach of children.”
He added, “We need to keep in mind that these pills cost money so people aren’t going to be throwing them on the ground for kids to find. I don’t think people will be giving these pills out as Halloween candy.”
The CDC notes the difficulty most people have in recognizing a drug overdose when it’s happening right in front of them:
Signs of an overdose may include:
• Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
• Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Limp body
• Cold and/or clammy skin
• Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
Reacting quickly can save a life:
1. Call 911 immediately.
2. Administer naloxone, if it’s available.
3. Do not leave the person alone
Naloxone can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, and prescription opioid medications. Often given as a nasal spray, naloxone is safe and easy to use.
Find more information on the DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page here.
