CDC Reports Record Number Of Overdose Deaths Amid Pandemic With Nearly 93,000 Lives Lost – CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reported a file variety of overdose deaths within the midst of the pandemic, almost 93,000 folks.

It’s a difficulty hitting our space exhausting, particularly New York Metropolis.

READ MORE: N.Y. AG James Announces $4.5 Billion Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Opioid Crisis

CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis spoke to Queens resident Andrew DeSousa, who has skilled it firsthand.

“Between the medicine and the alcohol, then there’s the insomnia that goes together with it, the behaviors… It’s simply no good,” he mentioned.

DeSousa has been battling dependancy since 2012, pinpointing the precise date he knew he wanted assist.

“March 22, I used to be at my lowest level I’d say,” he mentioned.

It was then he made the selection to return to Odyssey Home, which offers therapy companies from counseling to work help.

“It’s been unbelievable. I obtained my sleep again. I work out on daily basis. I’m consuming very wholesome. I’ve even gotten vaccinated,” DeSousa mentioned.

Jeremy King is vp of residential therapy companies.

“Individuals are extra reluctant to return into drug therapy applications due to worry of COVID-19, and in order that’s an enormous concern for us,” he mentioned.

He says the pandemic exacerbated a longstanding problem solely getting worse.

In response to the CDC, drug overdose deaths rose 29% in 2020. That’s greater than 92,000 lives misplaced with extra instances to be verified.

READ MORE: Advocates Call On Gov. Cuomo To Move Forward With Opening Of Supervised Drug Injection Sites

It’s a file quantity, however particular narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan says sadly, not stunning.

“In 2019, we began to see overdoses enhance, and we’re seeing a surge in fentanyl coming into New York Metropolis, and New York Metropolis is the gateway for drug trafficking all through the USA,” she mentioned.

She says fentanyl is as much as 50 instances stronger than heroin, and it’s now being discovered combined in different medicine equivalent to cocaine.

“We’re additionally seeing fentanyl pressed into counterfeit drugs trying like oxycodone and being bought on the road, and so they’re coming in now, already pressed into drugs, from Mexico,” Brennan mentioned.

CDC information confirmed New York Metropolis with a 36% enhance in overdose deaths. New York state is about the identical.

The prosecutor says working carefully with the NYPD and DEA, they’re seizing extra medicine than ever earlier than, however now that the pandemic is behind us, it’s essential to refocus extra sources into this epidemic.

“Our family members are a lot safer in drug therapy applications than they’re exterior,” King mentioned.

“I feel it was the very best resolution to return right here,” DeSousa mentioned.

He’s hoping others will do the identical.

In response to CDC information, New York has the best enhance in overdose deaths within the Tri-State Space.

MORE NEWS: Nation’s Eyes On New York As Unprecedented Opioid Trial Begins On Long Island

New Jersey had a slight enhance and Connecticut was over 12%.