New reports highlight increase in drug overdoses amid pandemic

Drug overdose calls to emergency services are soaring during the pandemic, possibly due to increased levels of anxiety and social isolation, according to recent reports from Politico and the Washington Post. Earlier this week, Politico reported that a White House drug policy office analysis showed that drug overdose deaths had increased 11.4% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. Kentucky saw a 25% increase in overdose deaths between January and March this year, while EMS calls and emergency department visits related to overdoses also increased between March and June. West Virginia also reported a 50% increase in emergency calls in May. The Post similarly reports that suspected overdoses have steadily increased, from an 18% jump in May 2020 compared to May 2019 to a 42% increase in May this year compared to last May.