The United States recorded a record of more than 100,000 overdose deaths in one year during the pandemic, health authorities reported Wednesday (November 17th).
Between April 2020 and April 2021, the country counted 100,306 fatal overdoses, an increase of 28.5% compared to the same period the previous year (78,056 deaths), according to provisional figures from the Centers for the prevention and the fight against diseases (CDC).
This is the first time that the symbolic bar of 100,000 deaths has been exceeded.
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These overdoses are largely caused by synthetic opiates, mainly fentanyl manufactured illegally,
" Deb Houry, head of the CDC, told a press conference. "
My administration is committed to doing everything in its power to tackle addiction and put an end to this epidemic of overdoses,
" President Joe Biden responded in a statement. "
As we continue to make progress in defeating the Covid-19 pandemic, we cannot ignore this epidemic of disappearances, which has affected families and communities across the country,
" he added.
The US government has announced plans to improve access to naloxone, an antidote capable of countering an overdose.
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It is time to recognize that this crisis seems to be getting worse, we need everyone on the bridge,
" added the Minister of Health Xavier Becerra to journalists.