The latest CDC provisional 12-month rolling numbers (through August 2024) are out for fatal overdoses and the news continues to be promising. The US reported overdose fatal numbers are down 23.2 % from the August 2023 high. * In Connecticut reported overdoses are down 29.9% from our November 2021 high, a level equivalent to July 2019. I expect the numbers to continue to drop in the coming months at least through November based on Connecticut data I have seen.
There was a great article in the CT Insider this morning about efforts in New Britain and Hartford Connecticut to connect with overdose patients and distribute naloxone throughout their communities.
New Britain sees significant drop in opioid deaths with Narcan training, social services
New Britain is reporting a 50% drop in the last 12 months through September. Impressive.
I responded to my first overdose in months last week (I only work once a week). Call came in as a fall in a city apartment and now unresponsive. Fire was there before us and was bagging the patient. “Pinpoint pupils, agonal breathing.”
Ten minutes after I gave naloxone, the patient was up and talking to us. While he denied using opioids or taking any drugs,** I still left a take home naloxone kit with his family. I told them next time he was unresponsive and barely breathing, they should squirt the naloxone in the patient’s nose and then call 911. They indicated they would.
Better availability of naloxone, outreach workers, perhaps a less lethal drug supply, more treatment availability, whatever the cause, let’s hope the declines continue.
* I am using the reported numbers. They also list predicted numbers. Under the predicted numbers the decline is 21.7% nationwide and 24.14% for Connecticut over the last 12 months and 29.7% from the November 2021 high.
** Data from CT’s SWORD project which tracks opioid overdoses found 27% of patients resuscitated with naloxone insisted they didn’t use opioids.