America witnessed the worst year for Drug overdose deaths in 2017: Result of Fentanyl Usage

The increased usage of the drug Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids has made 2017 the worst year for America in terms of deaths due to drug usage and overdose. According to the data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 72,000 people died of drug overdose in the year 2017 in the US. This is more than the previous year count of 64,000 people in 2016 which was the highest count before 2017.

The death count in 2017 has an average of 200 people per day dying due to the overdose of drugs and it is horrifying to hear such data. These estimates are higher comparing to the deaths due to guns, AIDS and car crash in the nation. It is also higher than that of the casualties happened in Iraq and Vietnam wars.

The current increased usage of the synthetic opioids, Fentanyl which is mixed with heroin to get a strong kick for the drug users. Since the fentanyl is stronger than other drugs, the addiction rate and overdoses are higher leading to the increased death rate. After the drugs waves in the early 90’s and 2000’s now the third wave of drug deaths have increased due to this fentanyl. 

More people get addicted to this by misusing the drug from patients who get prescribed by doctors. This can be controlled by restricting the drugs to an extent and mainly concentrating on the drugs addiction treatment centres and by boosting the medications for drug addicts.