This webinar, held by Addiction Policy Forum, discussed recent data on the impact of fentanyl on communities across the country, and new innovations to address fentanyl overdose and addiction, from vaccine development to drug testing strategies to public awareness campaigns.
The staggering increase in drug overdose deaths has been driven largely by the high prevalence of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, in the U.S. drug supply. Recent reports from the CDC show predicted overdose deaths reaching a devastating new 12-month record, with nearly 110,000 American lives lost from December 2021 to December 2022. The majority of these deaths involved fentanyl, often in combination with other drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and xylazine
Speakers
This free webinar was sponsored by Addiction Policy Forum. Presenters provided information useful to policymakers, professionals in health and criminal justice fields, and the general public, as the awareness of the fentanyl-driven overdose crisis and recent innovations can inform community responses to prevent these threats from escalating.