This figure corresponds to an increase of 15 % compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data published by the American health authorities. Among these deaths, more than 70,000 are linked to synthetic opiates such as fentanyl.
Le Monde with AFP
This is an increase that marks a dark record: the United States has counted some 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021, an increase of 15 % compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data published on Wednesday 11 May, by the American health authorities.
These figures mean that a person dies of overdose every five minutes in the country. Among these deaths, more than 70,000 are linked to synthetic opiates such as fentanyl, according to data from the prevention and combat centers (CDC).
follow stimulants such as methamphetamine (more than 30,000 deaths), cocaine (nearly 25,000) and natural or semi-synthetic opiates such as heroin (around 13,000). Several drugs can be involved in the same death.
The United States had for the first time exceeded the impressive number of 100,000 deaths per overdose over twelve months in April 2021. The 15 % increase for 2021 is however less than the 30 % increase which had been recorded between 2019 and 2020.
The COVID-19 crisis in question
The American opiate crisis was aggravated by the COVVI-19 epidemic, which increased the isolation of certain populations, according to experts. The highest increase in 2021 was observed in Alaska, where deaths increased by more than 75 %.
Fentanyl, highly addictive and inexpensive to manufacture, is increasingly mixed by traffickers with other drugs, according to the American anti -Drogue agency, DEA. It is also added to counterfeit pills on sale on the Internet, such as painkillers.
At the end of April, the government of Joe Biden announced an action plan to combat this crisis, focused on two aspects: more care for dependent people and the fight against drug trafficking. The American government wants in particular to emphasize the so -called “risk reduction” practices, such as the distribution of naloxone (an antidote capable of reviving a person doing an overdose due to opioids), tests allowing Check the presence or not of fentanyl, or the trade programs of used syringes by own.
He also wants to improve access to treatments (methadone, buprenorphine, etc.). “We will double the number of admissions for treatment for populations being the most at risk of dying by overdose,” promised in April at a press conference Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the office responsible for the fight against Drugs in the White House.