Preventing an Opioid Overdose
Opioid Overdoses Rose Sharply in 2020
Synthetic opioids are fueling a huge increase in opioid overdose deaths, according to public health officials, who say 2020 saw more such deaths than any other year. Learning about opioids and how you can spot the signs of an overdose could help you prevent a loved one from becoming the next statistic.
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. rose by almost 30 percent in 2020, reaching a tragic 93,331, according to a preliminary report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A huge proportion was just from opioids: 69,710 deaths, almost 75 percent of the total.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been blamed for much of the increase. Experts say stress and emotional struggles from social isolation and unemployment triggered drug addiction for many. But while the pandemic did add to addiction rates, overdoses were already rising in 2019. COVID most likely just accelerated the problem. Instead, fentanyl is thought to be at the root of the rising overdose rates. The CDC has called for a more concerted effort to raise awareness of substance use disorders and to improve access for those who need treatment.
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The High Risk of Opioid Addiction
The CDC has been sounding the alarm about fentanyl for several years. The public health agency reports that fentanyl-involved deaths rose by 16 percent from 2018 to 2019, and says opioid deaths were 12 times higher in 2019 than in 2013, just six years earlier.
Considering the history of illicit fentanyl, perhaps the numbers shouldn’t be surprising at all.
Fentanyl was created as a legitimate treatment for the excruciating pain many cancer patients suffer. Known as “breakthrough pain,” it often did not respond to conventional drugs. Fentanyl soon became an illicit substance because it was cheap to make and easy to transport; the drug is administered through a small, thin transdermal patch rather than with pills or intravenously. It is often mixed with heroin or cocaine – sometimes both – so the already powerful drug becomes even more addictive.
This can be frightening for those who are taking fentanyl for pain management, but it doesn’t have to mean you must throw out your prescription. Work with your doctor to come up with a safer way to manage your pain and take responsibility for the proper usage of the drug.
How to Prevent Opioid Overdose
You can reduce your chance of becoming addicted to fentanyl and risking an overdose by following these precautions:
- Follow your prescription dosage and don’t take more without your doctor’s approval
- Watch for unusual side effects and tell your doctor if you experience any
- Avoid alcohol and other drugs, especially those that make you drowsy, while taking fentanyl
- Keep your medication in a secure place safe from others, especially children
Signs of an Opioid Overdose
A person may be overdosing on fentanyl if they show any of these signs:
- Pupils are small, like pinpoints
- They’re falling asleep or have even lost consciousness
- Their breathing is slow and shallow
- You hear choking or gurgling sounds
- Their body goes limp
- Their skin is pale and cold
Don’t wait to see if they really are overdosing, and don’t try to treat them yourself. Call 911 right away and wait for medical help to arrive.
Opioid Addiction Treatment at Resurgence
Resurgence Behavioral Health offers comprehensive treatment to help those seeking relief from addiction to prescription drugs like fentanyl and other opioids. Customized for individuals according to their unique needs, treatment is offered on a residential and outpatient basis and includes initial detox followed by rehab and follow-up care for long-term sobriety. Addiction treatment may be only a symptom of an underlying emotional disorder, so Resurgence often approaches the problem as part of a co-occurring disorder.
For more information and to speak with an addiction specialist, contact Resurgence at (855) 458-0050.
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. rose by almost 30% in 2020, reaching a tragic 93,331, according to a preliminary report by the CDC. Don’t be another statistic, call Resurgence today! #cdc #drugoverdose #Overdose #fentanyl #opioids #recoveryispossiblehttps://t.co/lmRQSVWMv9
— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) August 9, 2021
Addiction Treatment that
Just Works
Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey.
