A freshly produced report from the Virginia Division of Wellness reveals an over-all increase in lethal drug overdoses in 2021. 

The fourth-quarter report demonstrates 2,656 total overdose fatalities in 2021, a 15% maximize from 2020. Artificial fentanyl was noted as contributing to the most fatalities, with 2,033 deaths recorded. Cocaine proved the 2nd most frequent contributor to drug overdoses in Virginia in 2021, with 801 deaths claimed versus the 650 noted in 2020. 

The opioid crisis has come to the forefront of the drug discussion throughout the Biden administration. The CDC described a 28.5% boost in general drug overdoses from 2020 to 2021. Opioid overdoses also noticed a virtually 26% maximize from 2020 to 2021 nationally, with 75,673 complete opioid overdose fatalities reported in 2021, according to the CDC. 

Most just lately, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) established Could 10 as "National Fentanyl Awareness Day" in an exertion to provide extra consideration to fentanyl fatalities throughout the US. 

FENTANYL Awareness Group ASKS BIDEN ADMIN TO Monitor POISONING, OVERDOSE Fatalities LIKE COVID-19 Fatalities

"Fentanyl is just about everywhere. From large metropolitan spots to rural The united states, no group is secure from this poison. We will have to choose every opportunity to unfold the term to prevent the fentanyl-associated overdoses saying scores of American lives each day," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram in a assertion. 

The CDC studies a 28.5% improve in all round drug overdoses from 2020 to 2021. (iStock)

GOP lawmakers have also been putting stress on the Biden administration to tackle the fentanyl disaster, exclusively at the southern border. A hundred Republican lawmakers formerly sent President Biden a letter urging him to forever label fentanyl-associated prescription drugs as schedule just one substances. 

"Fentanyl and fentanyl similar substances are fueling the overdose epidemic, killing 64,178 Americans involving May well 2020 and April 2021 and making up 64% of total U.S. overdose fatalities," the letter said. 

DRUG OVERDOSE Deaths Amid ADOLESCENTS ON THE Rise

Approximately 10,586 pounds of fentanyl ended up seized at the southern border in 2021, with US Customs and Border Patrol reporting a "substantial improve" in fentanyl seizures as of January. 

Simply click Below TO GET THE WHD News App

The contributed to this report.