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November 10th Webinar - "Overdose Crisis in Transition: Changing Trends in a Widening Drug Death Epidemic"
August 01, 2024:
For nearly two decades, the United States has experienced a growing epidemic of drug overdose deaths. But even by standards of the rapidly evolving opioid crisis, mortality data from 2018 illustrate a stark transformation: While the U.S. recorded rare declines in death rates from prescription opioids and heroin, overdose deaths from synthetic opioids continued their rise. The year also highlighted the dramatic ascent of emerging substances in the changing crisis, as overdose death rates from cocaine and psychostimulants (e.g., methamphetamine) reached record highs and outpaced overdose deaths from prescription opioids.
Focusing on these recent developments in the opioid crisis, a recent SHADAC webinar concentrated on analyzing and discussing changes in overdose deaths in more recent years, especially in 2018. Using the latest available data, Senior Research Fellow Colin Planalp detailed changing trends—both in terms of substances and subpopulations of concern—across the nation and among the states.
Mr. Planalp was joined by SHADAC Research Fellow Robert Hest, who explained how to access and use the data on opioid-related overdose deaths and sales of opioid painkillers through SHADAC’s State Health Compare website. Slides from the presentation, as well as a list of further SHADAC resources regarding the opioid crisis can be found at the bottom of this page.
Mr. Planalp was joined by SHADAC Research Fellow Robert Hest, who explained how to access and use the data on opioid-related overdose deaths and sales of opioid painkillers through SHADAC’s State Health Compare website. Slides from the presentation, as well as a list of further SHADAC resources regarding the opioid crisis can be found at the bottom of this page.
Speakers
Colin Planalp, MPA
SHADAC Senior Research Fellow
Robert Hest, MPP
SHADAC Research Fellow
Event Resources
The Opioid Epidemic (SHADAC Resource Page)
Overdose Crisis in Transition: Changing National and State Trends in a Widening Drug Death Epidemic (Briefs)
50-State Analysis of Drug Overdose Trends: The Evolving Opioid Crisis Across the States (Infographics)
After drop in 2018, newer data indicate a resurgence in drug overdose deaths
