US Drug Test Centers’ Post

Despite decades of warnings to the contrary, too many people still treat drugs and alcohol like they're nothing but a good time, leading to many deaths and countless lives affected. In this blog, we examine the number of overdose deaths over the last several years and what the trends have looked like over time. We'll also consider the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths, which groups of people are experiencing the most deaths involving drug use, and why overdose deaths seem to be getting worse over time. Lastly, we'll consider what can be done to prevent more deaths due to drug overdose. Click below ⬇️ to read it.

Despite decades of warnings to the contrary, too many people still treat drugs and alcohol like they're nothing but a good time, leading to many deaths and countless lives affected. In this blog, we examine the number of overdose deaths over the last several years and what the trends have looked like over time. We'll also consider the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths, which groups of people are experiencing the most deaths involving drug use, and why overdose deaths seem to be getting worse over time. Lastly, we'll consider what can be done to prevent more deaths due to drug overdose. ⬇️

While drug overdose deaths may have dropped slightly nationwide, not all US states saw a decrease. Drug-induced deaths went up more than 20% between 2022 and 2023 in western states like Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, but there was a nearly 25% decrease in Nebraska during that time and overdose deaths fell by about 15% in Maine. These variations, coupled with a lack of data, oblige experts to speculate about what factors may be impacting drug overdose deaths. To get an accurate picture of drug use trends and the state of drug markets in the United States, it is essential to fund monitoring programs and capitalize on existing efforts to test wastewater, experts told InSight Crime. https://bit.ly/4aXs8Lz

POLICIES MATTER: RECORD DRUG OVERDOES IN SAN FRAN by Zachary Faria Article excerpts: "Drug overdose deaths in San Francisco are snowballing, and the city still hasn’t ruled out its strategy of enabling users." "San Francisco saw 806 people die from accidental drug overdoses in 2023, the most on record and a sharp increase after a brief decline. The previous record was 726 in 2020, during the pandemic lockdowns. That dropped to 642 in 2021 and ticked up slightly to 649 in 2022 before the surge in overdose deaths last year." "Still, the idea of encouraging 'safe' drug use is prevalent throughout the city. Organizations give out what are euphemistically called 'harm reduction' kits, which include clean needles, tin cans used to cook up drugs in, pipes, and straws, among other things. These kits are distributed primarily to prevent the spread of diseases between drug users. But that strategy also enables and encourages users to keep using drugs, with many of these organizations not even bothering to have information ready for users on rehab or intervention programs."

There is an international crisis of drug overdose. Over the last twenty years drug overdose deaths have increased significantly in many parts of the world. Each year a record number of deaths are reported, predominantly driven by the misuse of opioids, often in combination with other drugs including benzodiazepines, stimulants and alcohol. In 2021, an estimated 296 million people – one in every 17 people aged 15-64 – had used a drug in the past 12 months, a 23 per cent increase from 2011. Some of the new drugs available today – most notably synthetic opioids and amphetamine-type stimulants – are more dangerous than their counterparts were 20 or even 10 years ago. There were 1,235 new psychoactive substances reported in 142 countries and territories between 2013 and 2023. Opioids are the fastest-growing and most harmful group of new psychoactive substances – there were 88 different types recorded globally in 2021, an increase from just one in 2009. For more information and resources you can use to make a difference in your community, please visit the official website at https://lnkd.in/gcZ2xcU #endoverdose #overdoseawareness #overdoseawarenessday #dontbeastatistic #opioids #genesisreferencelabs #diagnostictesting #orlandomedical #medlab

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day! Do you know the signs of an opioid overdose? Did you know that you can get Narcan at almost every pharmacy over the counter? Did you know that in the state of Michigan, we have free Narcan & test strips in vending machines across the community? Overdoses are at an all time high, which is largely due to fentanyl being increasingly found in the supply of various illicit drugs, including both opioids and non-opioids. Fentanyl alone is not a "bad" drug, it's used in medical procedures (no you can't actually die by just touching it being next to it), but when it is unknowingly put into the drug supply and someone who uses their normal drug of choice is unaware of this, they have no tolerance to it and can easily overdose. Remember, ANYONE can use drugs and overdose. Not just those who you deem immoral or low. It could be your sibling, parent, friend, teacher, cousin, neighbor, grandparent, etc. So what are some ways (besides abstinence) that can help prevent opioid overdose in those who use? 1. Carry naloxone aka Narcan 2. Carry test strips or drug testing kits in states where this is not illegal 3. Safe consumption sites if available in your community 4. Never use alone, there is a hotline for this that has saved hundred of lives: 1-(877)-696-1996 5. Needle/pipe exchanges 6. Decrease stigma, be there 7. Educate early & often!

The CDC's Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts webpage offers updated statistics on drug overdose deaths within the United States, including those due to opioids. The data, derived from the National Vital Statistics System, tracks mortality figures to provide early insights into overdose trends. These provisional counts reflect ongoing investigations and are adjusted to account for reporting delays. Importantly, this data helps identify increases or decreases in overdose deaths, supporting public health responses and policy planning. For comprehensive details, visit the CDC's page on drug overdose data. US Safeguards mission is to join in this war against drugs and prevention of overdose deaths. If you want to prevent fentanyl-related deaths, educate loved ones and community members, and increase survival rates after rehabilitation, let's start a dialogue. https://lnkd.in/dU8rsH-J

Hey connections... Here is my article about International drug abuse day... #SNSinstitutions #SNSdesignthinkers #Designthinking What is drug abuse? Drug abuse refers to the habitual misuse of drugs, whether they are legal or illegal substances. It involves the consumption of drugs in a manner that deviates from medically or socially acceptable patterns. Drug abuse can manifest in various forms, including using drugs excessively, using them for non-medical purposes, or using them in ways that are harmful to one's health or well-being. Key characteristics of drug abuse include: 1.Excessive Use : Taking larger amounts of a substance or using it more frequently than prescribed or intended. 2.Non-Medical Use : Using drugs for recreational purposes rather than for their intended medical use. 3.Harmful Consequences : Continued use despite knowing the negative effects on physical health, mental health, relationships, work, or other aspects of life. 4. Dependency : Developing a dependence on the substance, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms when not using it. Drug abuse can involve both legal substances (such as alcohol and prescription medications) and illegal substances (such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine). It is a complex issue influenced by biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Treatment for drug abuse often involves a combination of interventions, including counseling, behavioral therapies, and sometimes medication-assisted treatment, depending on the substance and the individual's needs. International drug abuse day : Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on June 26th each year, aims to raise awareness about the global issue of drug abuse. It emphasizes the need for action to combat drug trafficking and its negative impacts on individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The day promotes initiatives for drug prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing this complex problem.

The leading route of use in drug overdose deaths changed from injection during January–June 2020 (22.7% of deaths) compared with ingestion (15.2%), snorting (13.6%), and smoking (13.3%) to smoking during July–December 2022 (23.1% of deaths). #stopoverdose #harmreduction #opioids #publichealth https://lnkd.in/gSDXYs9f).