Report: Fentanyl overdoses nearly quadrupled in 2016 vs. 2015

BALTIMORE (WBFF) -- Maryland’s deadly addiction to opioids is getting worse according to recent statistics released by the State of Maryland.
Preliminary numbers from the first eight months of 2016 show the rate in which people are dying from heroin and fentanyl overdoses. Heroin overdoses have nearly doubled compared to 2015 figures and fentanyl overdoses have almost quadrupled.
Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen says, “There are more people here in Baltimore who die from overdoses than die from homicide and the numbers are increasing."
Of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions three saw a drop in heroin overdoses between 2015 and 2016. Frederick County is the only county to see a drop in fentanyl overdoses. Maryland has reacted to the epidemic by training as many people as possible on the use of an antidote to opioid overdoses.
Wen adds, “Naloxone or Narcan is inserted into the nose. All you have to do is press once and a person who otherwise would be dead will be walking and talking again.” It’s a life-saving measure critics of Naloxone view as perpetuating a problem rather than solving it.








