May 11 Watch 5:17 Overdose deaths in the U.S. reached record levels in 2021 By Geoff Bennett, Dorothy Hastings New CDC data released Wednesday indicates that deaths from drug overdoses in the U.S. reached a record-high last year. More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, the highest annual death toll ever recorded. Deaths from fentanyl, methamphetamine… Continue watching
May 11 CDC says more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, setting ‘staggering’ record By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, setting another tragic U.S. record. Continue reading
Jul 14 U.S. overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday. That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to… Continue reading
Jul 22 Watch 9:29 How the pandemic is complicating America’s addiction crisis By William Brangham, Mike Fritz According to preliminary data, drug overdoses killed nearly 72,000 Americans in 2019, a record high. Now, it appears that 2020 is on track to be even worse, as the U.S. has witnessed a startling rise in overdoses during the pandemic. Continue watching
Jan 30 For 1st time in 4 years, U.S. life expectancy rises, but only a little By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The rise is mostly due to lower death rates for cancer and drug overdoses. Continue reading
Jul 17 Number of U.S. overdose deaths appears to be falling By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Overdose deaths had been climbing each year since 1990, topping 70,000 in 2017. Continue reading
May 08 As fentanyl death toll spikes, states step up their interventions By Christine Vestal, Stateline With the advent of fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic drugs, many states are amplifying those policies and adding new programs to protect drug users from deadly contaminants in heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs. Continue reading
Dec 27 Watch 8:42 This West Virginia school is caring for students, when addicted parents can’t By PBS News Hour In opioid-stricken West Virginia, this school is taking on the role of parent. Lisa Stark of Education Week visits Cottageville Elementary, where students often lack food, clothes and transportation because of drug-addicted parents. In addition to increasing communication with local… Continue watching
Oct 06 Watch 4:51 How drug companies helped drive the opioid crisis By PBS News Hour The abuse of opioids has become a major public health concern; more than 28,000 people died by overdose in 2014. According to reporting by STAT News, drug companies downplayed the addictive effects of opioid drugs in the late 1990s, assuring… Continue watching
Dec 18 Deaths from drug overdoses reach record-high levels in 2014 By Joshua Barajas Nearly 50,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2014, a new record driven by the deaths of heroin addicts and people misusing prescription painkillers, new federal statistics showed. Continue reading