- Black Americans fatally overdosed in 2020 at a higher rate than white Americans for the first time since 1999. The rise of fentanyl, which is more deadly than heroin or prescription opioids, is driving the overdose rate higher and changing its demographics. The discrepancy in overdose rates also reflects some of the same inequities responsible for the pandemic’s outsized impact on underserved communities. Specifically, Black Americans are more likely to struggle with accessing health care and the treatments they need for opioid use. (Article here)
March 14, 2022
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders