2017 Opioid Overdose Death Rate Hits Record Highs

Written by
DiaMedical
Published on July 12, 2017 at 5:43:00 PM PDT July 12, 2017 at 5:43:00 PM PDTth, July 12, 2017 at 5:43:00 PM PDT

In the small town of Watertown, NY, Chief Fire Battalion Chief James R. Holland says that his department has responded to 244 overdose emergencies in the last year and a half alone. The Watertown Fire Department boasts an impressive 100% survival rate for every revival attempt made. Unfortunately, they don’t arrive in time to save everyone.

In 2016, twenty-three people in Jefferson County died of drug overdoses, at least sixteen of which were caused by opiates. But as of June 29, there have been 9 confirmed opiate-related deaths, with 7 more suspected. Toxicology results are pending. Alarmingly, 3 of these deaths occurred between Friday, June 23, and Thursday, June 29—just six days. And Chief Holland anticipates that these deaths will continue to multiply.

He’s not alone. The data show that so far, the 2017 opioid overdose death rate in Jefferson County is more than 4 times what it was in 2016. And this spike isn’t an outlier, but part of a larger national trend.

According to preliminary data compiled by the New York Times, drug overdose deaths in 2016 most likely exceeded 59,000 nationwide, in the largest annual jump ever recorded. In some states, overdose deaths increased by more than 25% from 2015 to 2016. Today, drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans under 50, with 91 people dying each day as the result of opioid abuse.

Much of this leap may be attributed to the increasing popularity of fentanyl among opioid users . A synthetic opioid frequently cut into heroin or sold pure, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. It is so powerful that law enforcement officers in multiple states have overdosed simply by making skin-to-skin contact with users.

To revive overdose victims, fire and EMS departments use naloxone, usually in 2 doses or less. But as opioid use becomes deadlier, first responders have had to administer even larger amounts. This year, emergency workers have often had to double the dosage of naloxone to save their patients.

“It has been quite a dramatic shift," said Stephen Jennings of the Alliance for Better Communities. "We're kind of in the trenches, learning about it as we go.”

Currently, videos and written instructions encompass most opioid overdose training materials. But there is a hands-on alternative: Emergency Opioid Overdose Training Kits, offered exclusively by DiaMedical USA.  Our kits provide all of the necessary equipment needed for realistic training in the proper administration of naloxone. Kits contain simulated naloxone, an Intranasal Mucosal Atomizer Device (M.A.D.), non-latex gloves, and a CPR face shield in a soft-sided bag imprinted with clear instructions for administering naloxone. Emergency Opioid Training Kits come in a variety of configurations to meet your training needs, and are safe to use on training manikins.