Overdose deaths are on the rise in New York. State leaders and advocates say it’s a problem that needs to be addressed soon.
The state Department of Health said overdose deaths increased 14% in 2021 compared to the previous year. The data is part of a quarterly update from health officials on the opioid epidemic.
Hospitalizations increased by 2% and overdoses not involving heroin also increased by 7%.
Most alarming? The strain it’s all putting on local hospitals. According to the data, emergency room visits increased by 24% during that period in New York.
While state leaders, including the health department, have worked to make Naloxone more readily available – it’s a reactive measure that doesn’t address the root cause of addiction.
Many say it’s time to put more effort into preventing addiction in the first place.
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