GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The number of drug overdose deaths in the United States has hit an all-time high.
In 2020, deaths reached 93,000.
In 2019, drug overdose deaths totaled about 72,000.
That’s a 29 percent increase in 2020.
The Jackie Nitschke Center Chief Executive Officer Larry Connors calls it a collision of two health crises.
“A pandemic and an already existing issue with drug addiction and mental health issues,” Connors said.
Connors says the addiction treatment facility has seen an increase in need and demand for its services since around Thanksgiving.
In Wisconsin alone, the number of overdose deaths from December 2019 to December 2020 rose 27.4 percent.
There were 1,208 deaths in 2019 and 1,539 deaths in 2020.
Connors says it’s tragic.
“It hurts us to hear that but it only makes us resolve to work even harder at helping people. This pandemic has been a trigger for so many, they’re isolated, apart from normal support systems, and unfortunately that has triggered increases in use, relapses, and sadly, deaths,” Connors said.
He says there’s hope.
“Recovery is possible, and we just set the table for them so to speak. They do the work,” Connors said.
Connors encourages those who are struggling to ask for help.
“Don’t hesitate for any reason to pick up the phone, call us, go to a meeting, call a friend, don’t be alone. It’s hard enough without the isolation and there are people who do care,” Connors said.
To learn more about the Jackie Nitschke Center, click here.
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