CDC calls fentanyl deadliest drug in America

<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fentanyl has become the deadliest drug in America.</p>

News 12 Staff

Dec 13, 2018, 12:34 AM

Updated 1,968 days ago

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fentanyl has become the deadliest drug in America.
A new CDC report looked at the death certificates of about 64,000 drug overdose victims. According to the report, fentanyl was the drug behind nearly more than 28 percent of the cases-- more than any other drug.
While that may be the national trend, Jeff Reynolds, of Family and Children's Association, says opioid deaths are down locally.
"We're finally beginning to turn the corner on that crisis, and we're seeing a drop in overdose fatalities," Reynolds says.
The report says methamphetamine is claiming a larger number of lives than in years past and that it's responsible for nearly 11 percent of cases -- up from less than 5 percent in 2011.
For Lisa Schmidt, nothing has been same since her son Joseph died of a lethal injection of heroin and cocaine five years ago. Schmidt says she volunteers and teaches Narcan training to honor her son's memory.


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