Pharmacists Call to Action as Opioid Crisis Worsens in North Carolina By: Tyler Distasio PharmD Candidate
In the United States, drug overdose deaths have soared during the pandemic, with more than 100,000 overdose-related deaths. The National Center for Health Statistics has connected 93% of those deaths to opioid use.
Depicted in the graph below, data from the North Carolina Injury and Violence Prevention Branch shows in October 2021, overdose ED visits rose 1.1% compared to October 2020. 2020 also set a record with over a 23% increase in overdose ED visits, the largest increase reported since 2017.
In examining overdose ED visits by county, those that rank highest ending October 2021 concentrate in areas with known barriers to overdose prevention services for those with opioid use disorder. There is also a growing need for innovative approaches to increase treatment capacity by providing lifesaving medications such as buprenorphine in these areas. Collaboration between pharmacists and prescribers Page 34
