State-Level Non-Fatal Opioid Overdoses: The White House Releases A New Data Map
Nikki Attkisson | Last Updated : December 10, 2022A new national data dashboard that helps to track the rate of nonfatal opioid overdoses across the country was introduced by the White House as a movement to the fight against the nationwide opioid epidemic on December 8.
The database was launched live on Thursday. The map shows the average of how long it takes to medical services when a person gets overdosed on a drug, the percentage of patients who are not taken to the hospital for treatment when get overdosed, and the average number of naloxone per patient with the number of nonfatal overdoses.
The dashboard was launched by the White House Office Of National Drug Control Policy and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a partnership policy.
Ann Carlson, acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said, the dashboard is a big opportunity. It serves as lifesaving medical care to people across the country and also helps reduction of non-fatal overdoses and treatments for people. And she added this is very critical to many streams of our country.
There Is An Antagonist For Opioids
Naloxone is a medicine it is known as the antagonist of opioids. It can reduce the effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone is popularly known for its brand name Narcan. Naloxone was used by healthcare providers in 2021 around 155,420 times in their patients to reverse the effect of Naloxone.
The researchers frequently inform about the opioid epidemic and policy decisions by using data from nonfatal overdose deaths. Tracking nonfatal overdoses are helping to be aware of it and giving the opportunity for early intervention to the nonfatal overdoses.
The data shown on the dashboard is an underestimated number because it shows the number of people who received healthcare services officially. The health officials said the platform will be modified with more pieces of information including data points looking at health disparities. Officials said that the data will be updated every two weeks on Mondays.
Biden administration introduced the 2022 national drug control. 2022 national drug control strategy which includes expanding access to the overdose reversal drug, naloxone test strips to check drugs for fentanyl, and sterile needles.
In 2021 over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. Fentanyl drug is behind the death of two-thirds of them. Most fentanyl users take it without the knowledge that they are taking it. They can’t smell or taste it even see it separately. Fentanyl is highly toxic and even causes death.
More than 150 Americans are dying every day by overdose.
More From Powdersville Post:
🔵 As FDA Receives Criticism: Speedier Drug Approvals Are Slowed
🔵 How To Make Phentermine More Potent For Weight Loss?
The Biden administration selected some reduction methods as a part of the drug control strategy by encouraging the naloxone makers to speak with federal regulators to make overdose treatment.
A new study shows diabetes patients who use opioids are more attempt to suicide. Opioids are the main reason for death by overdose in the United States.
Reasons the Fentanyl is so deadly
- Fentanyl was developed as a painkiller for surgery and cancer.
- Patients often applied it in a patch on the skin.
- Drug dealer manufacturers illicit fentanyl to lace other drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
- Fentanyl has extreme potency, so it is added while many drug productions.
- It makes the drugs more addictive and dangerous.
- But those medicines are cheaper than others.
- It is a synthetic opioid and it is 50 times stronger than heroin.
- It is 100 times stronger than morphine.
- Fentanyl produces intense short-term, high feelings of Euphoria.
- Fentanyl slows respiration.
- Reduced blood pressure by the use of fentanyl causes nausea, fainting seizures, and even death.
- One dose of Fentanyl could be deadly to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Reference:
🔵 The White House (n.d) ICYMI: Dr. Gupta Op-Ed on How Better Data Can Help Beat the Overdose Epidemic and Save Lives Available [Online] at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/briefing-room/2022/07/05/icymi-dr-gupta-op-ed-on-how-better-data-can-help-beat-the-overdose-epidemic-and-save-lives/
With over 15 years as a practicing journalist, Nikki Attkisson found herself at Powdersville Post now after working at several other publications. She is an award-winning journalist with an entrepreneurial spirit and worked as a journalist covering technology, innovation, environmental issues, politics, health etc. Nikki Attkisson has also worked on product development, content strategy, and editorial management for numerous media companies. She began her career at local news stations and worked as a reporter in national newspapers.