New Federal Data Showing 100,000 Americans Lost their Lives to Fatal Overdoses from End of April 2020 to April 2021. The numbers surpass deaths from car accidents and guns combined
It is devastating to learn that 100,000 people in our country lost their lives to an overdose during the one-year period that ended in April 2021 according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics. This is another tragic example of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These are our family members, friends, and colleagues, not just a statistic. We know that many of these overdoses are caused by synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl, which is often added unknowingly to opioids and stimulants. The prevalence of this extraordinarily lethal drug coincides with the still lingering isolation and uncertainty in our country and that has amplified the existing public health crisis. While these statistics are staggering, this is a crisis that can be significantly abated if we take critical steps to start saving lives immediately. Shatterproof has already been implementing solutions and has a roadmap to save more lives.
- Invest in quality, evidence-based treatment
- Integrate care for mental health and substance use disorder into the primary care setting
- Encourage treatment by reducing stigma (2021 Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index, the first of its kind, largest and most expansive survey ever fielded on addiction stigma, Shatterproof’s National Movement to End Addiction Stigma to break down stigma and offer recovery friendly workplaces, and Shatterproof’s Addiction Language Guide to end the use of stigmatizing language are great resources)
- Reduce overdose deaths and harm through evidence-based interventions
- Prevent addiction by investing in youth prevention
- Increase access to naloxone
Equally important to these policies and programs, Shatterproof offers free life-saving tools on our website, at our find help section, where individuals or loved ones can determine if it is time to seek treatment, the different types of treatment available, what level of care is needed, identifying the right treatment provider based on quality metrics, how to pay for treatment and support available as you or your loved one walks through this overwhelming time.
Finally, Shatterproof wants loved ones to be honored appropriately and therefore we have created the National Addiction Memorial as a place to share photos and the stories of the loved ones lost to substance use disorder.
It is vital that the revelation of these tragic numbers does not result in despondency, but instead invigorate a renewed focus on solutions to this crisis. The addiction crisis has been sidelined due to the devastation of COVID-19, but it is only being exacerbated and it is imperative that it be paid the attention it deserves. Our loved ones need us to take action, show compassion, empathy and offer tangible solutions now more than ever.
About Shatterproof:
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. Shatterproof harnesses the models of business, the rigor of science and the power of a national movement to create change and save lives through three pillars of work: revolutionizing the addiction treatment system, breaking down addiction-related stigmas and supporting and empowering our communities. To learn more visit www.Shatterproof.org.
