| Hans-Günter Meyer-Thompson | International
USA. BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Overdose Deaths
USA. BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Overdose Deaths
No one should die from overdose. These deaths are preventable. In 2022, overdose deaths reached record highs. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were 110,774 deaths in 2022. This is a nearly 4% increase from 2021. These are not just numbers; they are lives. They are our loved ones: our families, our friends, our neighbors. Criminalization is driving the overdose crisis. Yet, many elected officials continue to fail our communities by calling for ineffective punitive policies as a response to the crisis. Elected officials must prioritize a health-based approach instead. (DPA – Drug Policy Alliance, USA, 31.01.2024)