Opioid overdoses increased 30% from July 2016 through September 2017 in 45 U.S. states
- More than 115 people in the US die everyday due to overdosing on opioids.
- $78.5 billion a year – the “economic burden” from prescription opioid misuse in the U.S. alone.
- These costs include healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.
- In 2015, more than 33,000 Americans died as a result of an opioid overdose.
- These included prescription opioids, heroin, and illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
- Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid.
- In 2015, an estimated 2 million people in the United States suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.
- In 2015, 591,000 people in the United States suffered from a heroin use disorder.
- In 2017 fentanyl surpassed heroin as the major cause of drug intoxication deaths in Maryland.
What you need to know about Fentanyl:
- Fentanyl is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin.
- It is critical that those who may decide to administer first aid understand that even small amounts of fentanyl can be fatal if ingested or inhaled.
- The risk of exposure to fentanyl is massive.
- Someone providing emergency aid to a victim that uses fentanyl may come in contact with the drug through body fluids such as vomit. Fentanyl remains potent even when mixed with gastric acid.
- Fentanyl residue from clothing or surroundings can pose a risk of exposure by rubbing an eye or scratching a nose.
Unfortunately, employers are being left with the burden of addressing the severity of the drug addiction problem in their workforce.
Premier Safety Solutions
Maryland Construction Safety Consultants
PO Box 353
Taneytown, MD 21787
410-346-8060