(Tulare County Sheriff’s Office via AP, Archives)
PHOENIX – A worrying trend was revealed in 2020 regarding the increase in drug overdose deaths compared to 2019 in Maricopa County.
Across the county, 1,752 overdose deaths have been reported this year, with another 550 cases under investigation.
That number is almost double the total overdose deaths in Maricopa County in 2019, which was 1,078.
The sharp increase year after year can be attributed to a multitude of causes, according to Cheri Oz, who is a special agent responsible for the Phoenix field division for the Drug Enforcement Agency.
One of the reasons that Oz declared for the increase is the low price of deadly barbiturates like fentanyl, which are highly addictive.
“[Fentanyl] it is an inexpensive item to have. It is a cheap medicine to buy. It’s cheap to do. And that it can be used in other drugs, ”said Oz. “I think we have accidental addicts and accidental overdoses because people believe they are buying something else.”
Oz said KTAR News 92.3 FM that drugs like fentanyl are especially dangerous because they addict people and are deadly to the user in the long run.
“It is a good business model, it makes you return to the same supplier because you are willing to pay the price to continue to feed your addiction,” said Oz.
“It’s a horrible price when you think about what it costs: how much it costs for your community, how much it costs for your parents, how much it costs for your children. It is a price that no one would pay if they knew how much it really costs. “
Oz added that the current COVID-19 pandemic is playing a role in the dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths for a number of reasons, including the lack of social interaction that many are currently experiencing.
“We have a new normal that consists of non-normal things, like not seeing each other or being able to touch other people,” said Oz. “And humans thrive on personal interaction. When we have none of that, people look for other ways to meet their needs ”.
The rise in overdose deaths in Arizona reflects the patterns seen nationally.
A CDC study earlier this year found that 81,230 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in a 12-month period ending in May 2020, representing the highest number of drug overdoses in a 12-month period ever recorded.
This increase in overdose deaths has led people like Oz to refocus on measures that can be taken at the community level to prevent overdose deaths from continuing to increase.
Above all, Oz believes that these communities should face the increased overdose, teaching people about the risks that come with being addicted to drugs like fentanyl.
“And any type of illicit drug starts very cheaply,” said Oz. “It is important to educate our children, educate our communities about the dangers of falling into this trap.”
Griselda Zetino, from KTAR News 92.3 FM, contributed to this report.