Although overdose deaths have increased in every demographic group, the national death rate for black men more than tripled between 2015 and 2020, making it the largest increase of any group and surpassing the death rate for white men. When looking at the change one one year, the CDC states "From 2019 to 2020, overdose death rates increased by 44% and 39% among non-Hispanic Black (Black) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons, respectively [on a national level]" Overdose death rates among Black men in 2020 were also 7 times higher than white men. What's notable is the groups that are dying at the highest rates don't have a history of a substance use disorder.
If the rate of substance use disorders isn't increasing, why are more people dying? Fentanyl. Illicitly made fentanyl (IMF) is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and it is the driving factor in the increase of fatal and non-fatal overdoses. In Connecticut, fentanyl was involved in 85% of overdose deaths (men and women) this year, however 73% of deaths were men. The death rates in our state have not followed the national trend; the majority of fatal overdoses are white men ages 25 - 64.
What Can We Do? Educate communities about substance use prevention and reinforce the dangers of fentanyl.
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