The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office has reported a significant increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths, highlighting a national public health crisis. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were responsible for over 74,000 deaths in 2023, which constituted more than two-thirds of the total 111,000 drug overdose deaths across the country.
In California, the situation has worsened dramatically, with fentanyl-related fatalities rising from fewer than 500 in 2016 to 6,473 in 2022, marking an increase of over 1,500% in just six years.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can effectively counteract fentanyl overdoses and is available for free at various locations in Trinity County, including the Trinity County Public Health office and the Trinity County Behavioral Health office.
Moreover, fentanyl is increasingly being detected in other illicit drugs. An analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry found that 13% of methamphetamine and 15% of cocaine samples tested nationwide contained fentanyl.
In light of these alarming trends, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to prioritize their safety by staying informed and avoiding unknown drugs.
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