(Tulare County Sheriff’s Office via AP, File)
PHOENIX – A worrying trend was revealed in 2020 with regard to the increase in drug overdose deaths compared to 2019 in Maricopa County.
Across the county, 1,752 overdose deaths have been reported this year, and 550 more cases have been investigated.
This figure is almost double the total overdose deaths in Maricopa County in 2019, which was 1,078.
According to Cheri Oz, who is a special agent in charge of the Phoenix field division for the Drug Control Agency, the sharp increase from one year to the next can result in many causes.
One of the reasons Oz claimed to have increased is the low price of deadly barbiturates like fentanyl which are very addictive.
“[Fentanyl] it is a cheap item to have. It is a cheap medicine to buy. It’s cheap to make. And that can be put on other drugs, “Oz said.” I think we have accidental addicts and accidental overdoses because people think they’re buying something else. “
He said Oz News KTAR 92.3 FM that drugs like fentanyl are especially dangerous as they hook people and are deadly to the user in the long run.
“It’s a good business model, which makes you go back to the same supplier because you’re willing to pay whatever price to continue fueling your addiction,” Oz said.
“It’s a horrible price when you think about what it costs: what your community costs, what it costs your parents, what it costs your children. It’s a price no one would pay if you knew how much it really was. “
Oz added that the current COVID-19 pandemic is playing a role in the drastic increase in drug overdose deaths for several reasons, including the lack of social interaction that many currently have.
“We have a new normal that consists of abnormal things, like not seeing each other or being able to touch other people,” Oz said. “And humans thrive on personal interaction. When we have nothing, people will look for other ways to meet their needs. “
The increase in overdose deaths in Arizona reflects patterns seen nationwide.
A CDC study earlier this year found that 81,230 deaths from drug overdoses occurred in the United States in a 12-month period ending in May 2020, representing the largest number of drug overdoses. for a period of 12 months never recorded.
This increase in overdose deaths has led those like Oz to focus on steps that can be taken at the community level to prevent overdose deaths from continuing to increase.
Above all, Oz believes these communities should take on the overdose by teaching people about the risks of drug addiction such as fentanyl.
“And any kind of illicit drug starts out very cheap,” Oz said. “It’s important that we educate our children, we educate our communities about the dangers of falling into this trap.”
Griselda Zetino of KTAR News 92.3 FM contributed to this report.