The Massive Jump in Fentanyl Deaths in Los Angeles County
Over the past five years, the jump in fentanyl deaths in Los Angeles County has been staggering. In a report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, deaths tied to illicit fentanyl are skyrocketing. Indeed, more than 13 times as many people lost their lives in 2021 compared to 2016. Certainly, a 1280% increase in fentanyl drug overdoses in five years is unprecedented.
As a Substance Use Disorder Treatment provider, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) focuses on preventing fentanyl deaths through a diverse range of recovery services. From experience with statistics and record-keeping, there is no better provider of factual data than the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The demographic information in their report shows that fentanyl deaths are hitting all areas of the population. In other words, everyone is at risk of experiencing a tragedy related to illicit fentanyl in their community.
Fentanyl Deaths in Los Angeles County Soar
In Los Angeles County, the number of deaths linked to fentanyl rose from 109 in 2016 to 1,504 in 2021. Nationwide, 55% of overdose deaths across the county link directly to illicit fentanyl. Even scarier, among 12- to 17-year-olds who die of a drug overdose, 92% of them test positive for the drug. The statistics cannot be denied. Without a doubt, fentanyl is a national plague of addiction and overdoses.
As you can see above, fentanyl pills appear small and harmless. Blue fentanyl pills are the most common, although Skittle-like candy pills with fentanyl are becoming more common. Drug cartels distribute such pills specifically to attract adolescents and teenagers.
According to UCLA Researchers, fentanyl is the driving force behind the rise in teen overdoses and deaths in Los Angeles County. Moreover, fentanyl is especially dangerous for people without a high tolerance for opioids. Naturally, teenagers and adolescents fall into this category.
Raising Awareness and Highlighting Prevention
As a provider of integrated recovery services, TTC believes that a vital tool in combating fentanyl overdoses is prevention and education. People need to be made aware of the incredible danger. Indeed, most people do not know that fentanyl is fifty to a hundred times more powerful than morphine or heroin. Too many people are dying because they are not aware of the risk.
For parents and loved ones, fentanyl abuse is not something to be dealt with casually. Given the staggering rise in fentanyl deaths in the past five years, immediate action needs to be taken. After all, a young person fooling around and experimenting with drugs is at a greater risk than ever before. To access your loved one or family member to the help they need, please contact us today.