Jefferson County ACT Facts | April 2021

April 16, 2021

The Jefferson County Alcohol Consumption Taskforce (ACT) releases a fact sheet on a regular basis to keep greater Jefferson County informed and aware of the latest issues impacting our community. This month’s facts relate to overdosing.

Overdosing is a nationwide epidemic

For the 12-month period ending in May 2020, overdose deaths rose significantly across the nation1:

  • Opioid (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) overdose deaths increased 38.4%
  • Cocaine overdose deaths increased 26.5%
  • Psychostimulant (meth and others) overdose deaths increased 34.8%

A team of investigators from the Boston Medical Center analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, and found that opioid overdose deaths involving stimulants among youth increased 351% between 2010 and 2018.2

 The best ways to combat overdoses3 are:

  1. Expand awareness of substance abuse disorders
  2. Expand available treatment options
  3. Intervene early
  4. Engage in prevention activities

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/91218-overdose-deaths-covid-19.html
  2. https://idph.iowa.gov/substance-abuse/opioid-update
  3. https://www.drugabuse.gov/