Pennsylvania Must Renew its Fight Against Opioids
Finally, the US opioid epidemic has been overshadowed by something else … but not in a good way. Since the early weeks of 2020 COVID-19 has been the health issue that has overtaken everything else in terms of life threatening illnesses. Now, thanks to the creation and roll-out of several vaccines, it seems we are finally taking steps to get COVID-19 under control.
One issue that has not simply ‘gone away’ in Pennsylvania and the rest of the US because of the prevalence of COVID-19 is that of the opioid epidemic. Just because COVID-19 has trampled upon the media coverage of the over-prescription of opioids, this does not mean that the dreadful nature of opioid addiction should be forgotten about.
The Awful News is That 2020 May Have Been a Record Year for Opioid Related Deaths
According to Jennifer Smith – the secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the state – the number of opioid related fatalities in 2020 could, sadly, set a record for an all-time high. When the opioid crisis peaked in 2017, Pennsylvania ranked in the number three spot in the US for the number of drug overdose deaths recorded in the state. Efforts should be made to prevent Pennsylvania from regaining such a sad, lofty peak ever again.
The national figures do not make for pleasant reading. Between May 2019 and May 2020, the number of drug overdose deaths reported in the US rose to 81,000 – the highest figure ever recorded.
The success in tackling COVID-19 displays the resourcefulness available in Pennsylvania, but unlike the coronavirus, there is and can never be a vaccine for opioid addiction. Indeed, opioid-based painkillers were given as the solution to another issue – prolonged, chronic pain.
Communities in Pennsylvania have been ravaged by COVID-19, but hopeful progress is being made. As the state recovers from the effects of the coronavirus, it’s time to shift focus back on the previous pandemic and tackle the continuing issue of opioid dependency and the threat of overdose-related deaths.
If You’re Struggling with Opioid Dependency, Then The Team at Advanced Rapid Detox is Here to Help
If you wish your life could be made free from opioids, then please contact the Advanced Rapid Detox center today. We can cleanse your body of opioids in as little as three days, and all in the safe and secure environment of a hospital, not a hotel room like some of our competitors. We are there with you every step of the way. Contact us today at (800) 603-1813, or online through our contact form.