[1/3] Paramedics display a dose of the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, or Naloxone Hydrochloride, in an ambulance in Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S., August 8, 2017.
The figure is up 0.7% from 108,825 overdoses recorded in the 12-month period ending January 2022, according to U.S. data.
The U.S. drug overdose death toll crossed the 100,000-mark for the first time in 2021, as the COVID pandemic disrupted medical care and increased mental health problems.
U.S. drug overdose deaths rose 13.7% between January 2021 and January 2022 and by 31.4% in the prior 12 months at the height of the pandemic.
But the surge in overdose deaths began before the pandemic took hold due to abuse of prescription opioid painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin.
Persons:
Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Biden, Tom Britton, Stacey McKenna, McKenna, Nandhini Srinivasan, Khushi, Bill Berkrot
Organizations:
REUTERS, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, American Addiction Centers, U.S, R Street Institute, D.C, CDC, Thomson
Locations:
Peabody , Massachusetts, U.S, China, Mexico, Washington, Bengaluru