The assessment looked at data collected from 2018 to 2023, with an emphasis on the post-COVID impact on opioid-use disorder. What officials found suggests that young, vulnerable groups are in crisis and need immediate solutions.
Nonfatal overdoses are increasing
PWHD found that the number of nonfatal opioid-related overdoses has more than doubled since 2017, with over 300 per year consistently since 2020, when the pandemic first broke out.
While overdose trends have steadily dropped among most age groups since 2021, overdoses are increasing among adolescent girls, Black and Latino adults and community members in the 20 to 24 age group.
In the six years analyzed, overdoses increased 500% among Hispanic people, 237% among Black people and 106% among white people.
Hospitalizations have nearly doubled
While these overdoses were not fatal, many required hospitalization.
The data shows that hospitalizations have nearly doubled since 2018 for those who are between 20 and 24 years old. Opioid use disorder hospitalizations have increased consistently among Black and Hispanic individuals specifically.
Not only does this raise concerns for people’s health and well-being, but hospitalization data also shows a massive cost burden imposed on vulnerable groups. In 2022 alone, hospitalizations related to substance use disorder cost people $8.78 million.
COVID-19 lockdown as a factor
PWHD’s data found that the largest spikes in opioid-related deaths happened during COVID-19 lockdowns. Specifically, the highest spikes in deaths happened in 2020 and 2021. While overdose rates are slowly decreasing, they still have not dropped to pre-pandemic levels.
Most of those deaths happened to those between 25 and 44 years old. The younger population specifically carries much of that burden, with the younger age group steadily increasing in fatalities.
In 2022 alone, 10.2% of all overdose deaths occurred among those who were between 10 and 19 years old, indicating a massive need for early intervention. This sentiment was emphasized in 2023, when fatalities among those who are between 20 and 24 sharply increased.
Nonfatal overdoses also increased during COVID lockdowns.
In 2020 and 2021, 713 people overdosed, a dramatic increase from the previous three years combined (2017 through 2019). In the years since lockdowns, overdoses are still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels.
What can we do from here?
Societally, PWHD recommends a cross-system collaboration to address the stigma that – at all levels – inhibits people’s access to care, communication regarding available resources and services received.
Increased awareness and education can reduce stigma, negative attitudes and historical friction between leaders and the community. As cited in the report, establishing peer recovery services can help bolster knowledge of and access to current resources, especially among the younger population.
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