Caitlin Owens Jan 31, 2020
Data: Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Health Statistics;
Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios
Opioid
deaths in the U.S. decreased in 2018 after years of steady increases, while the
U.S. life expectancy ticked up for the first time in four years, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
Between
the lines: The effort to combat the opioid epidemic appears to be
working, although the problem is far from solved.
- More
naloxone, fewer opioid prescriptions, higher treatment rates and a strong
economy have all contributed to the declining death rate, HHS Assistant
Secretary for Health Brett Giroir said.
By the
numbers: Life expectancy rose from
78.6 years in 2017 to 78.7 years in 2018.
Yes,
but: There's also some bad news.
- The
rate of drug overdose deaths from synthetic opioids — like fentanyl
— increased by 10% between 2017 and 2018.
- Cocaine
and meth overdose deaths are also on the rise.
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