Every 11 minutes.

every 11 minutes someone in the United States of America die from an opioid overdose .Opioids are a class of drugs that include pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin?), hydrocodone (Vicodin?), codeine, morphine, the illegal drug heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Opioids can make people feel very relaxed and "high" which is why they are sometimes used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States Opioid misuse can cause slowed breathing, which can cause hypoxia, a condition that results when too little oxygen reaches the brain. Hypoxia can have short- and long-term effects, including coma, permanent brain damage, or death.

Since 2020, there have been around 70,600 people in the United States who died from a drug overdose involving fentanyl. This is the highest number of fentanyl overdose deaths ever recorded in the U.S., and it represents a significant increase from the number of deaths reported in 20191. Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid, similar to morphine but more powerful. It is both a prescription drug and is also manufactured illegally. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is sometimes mixed with other drugs like heroin and cocaine, often without the user’s knowledge. Due to its potency, fentanyl is highly addictive and puts users at a high risk for overdose. The rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl in 2021 was 21.8 per 100,000 population, compared to just one per 100,000 population in 20131. It’s important to address this growing public health concern and raise awareness about the risks associated with fentanyl use. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, consider seeking professional help and support.