IndianaLocalNews

Report: Drug overdoses killing more people in Indiana, nationwide

(95.3 MNC)
More Indianans are struggling with substance use disorders, according to the latest America’s Health Rankings report.
State data show six Indiana residents died each day from a drug overdose in 2020, a 21% increase from the previous year.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare employer and individual, said it mirrors a nationwide trend. She pointed to new data showing drug deaths nationwide increased by 30%.
“This is the largest yearly increase in drug deaths since we’ve been looking at it in 2007,” Randall reported. “That means nearly 92,000 additional people died in the United States due to drug injury and overdose.”
There were more than 2,800 drug overdose deaths in Indiana in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the past two decades, more than 15,000 Indianans have lost their lives to drug overdose, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Randall noted heavy drug use continues to burden families, communities, the health care system and the economy.
“What we see is a substantial amount of that cause of those drug overdose deaths,” Randall explained. “About 70% of it is related to an opioid, in most cases, it’s a nonprescription opioid.”
While the rate of frequent mental distress reported by residents soared during the pandemic, Randall pointed out bright spots, including an increase in the number of communities nationwide boosting their supply of mental health and primary-care providers.
“More people choosing mental health and primary care as a profession,” Randall emphasized. “More access to mental health providers.”
According to the report, suicide is the 12th-leading cause of death among Americans, with mental illness and substance-use disorders being the most significant risk factors for suicidal behaviors. In 2020, more than 45,000 people nationwide chose to end their lives.

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4 comments

RH January 2, 2023 at 12:40 pm

This is sadly an issue that too many people look the other way on, unless it affects someone in their life! I watched a documentary where the reporter was allowed inside a cartel fentanyl lab. These people are getting their raw materials from China and making pure fentanyl that is getting cut with horse tranquilizer when it hits the US!! And they admitted their business is so large because of the US demand for it. Now, we have wide open borders with no way to stop cartels. And no sanctions on China for their role. How many more have to die before our government stops this?? These ODs are on their hands!

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Matt Litherland January 2, 2023 at 4:10 pm

Some of what you said is true but recently Congress has designated the drug cartels terrorists which means they can seize assets all the way up the chain to China so you wanted a wall there it is they paid for it themselves now the second thing is that 70% of all the fentanyl shipments are coming through legal entry points and porch

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Trokk General January 2, 2023 at 2:32 pm

There are levels to this. #1-the love of money is on the human side, money is more valuable than a persons life. #2-Satan is behind all killing of overdose in the world, he whispers to the drug user it will be alright, knowing that next hit of drugs they will breathe their last. The demand for drugs are so high America can’t stop the cartel from getting it over here, and our government officials could be involved. Trump caught for us on the border, now you don’t hear nothing.

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Chris January 3, 2023 at 12:49 am

Nobody’s stating the real reason why this epidemic even started in the first place? The United States whether you want to believe it or not but large quantities of fentanyl it’s not just China it’s the United States armies militaries funding secret operations if everybody remembers when we all used to go to the doctors to get our pain medication the overdoses were very very very very low that was the reason why they made it illegal because of all the overdose deaths now that the fentanyl is hitting the street that has changed dramatically death upon deaths we are looking at 20 a week make the pain pills legal again and then the fitting all will go away

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