Each year, tens of thousands of people lose their lives to drug overdoses.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths in the United States rose in 2019 by a projected 4.8%, erasing a slight decline in 2018 and setting a new record high.  The CDC reported 70,980 projected overdose deaths in 2019, more than the previous record of 70,699 deaths set in 2017, and experts fear that drug overdose numbers could be even more deadly this year, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.  More than 40 states have already reported increases in opioid-related mortality as well as ongoing concerns for those with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Continue reading →