The New Normal: How has the opioid crisis worsened during the pandemic?

News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, and Jeffrey L. Reynolds, the president and CEO of FCA, to discuss the opioid crisis in the communities during the pandemic.

News 12 Staff

Nov 17, 2021, 3:07 PM

Updated 1,050 days ago

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News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, and Jeffrey L. Reynolds, the president and CEO of FCA, to discuss the opioid crisis in the communities during the pandemic.
We know opioids impact every corner of this country. Last year, a record number of Americans died from drug overdoses - 93,000. That's 254 people a day, or more than 10 every hour. Three-quarters of them died from opioids, often by unknowingly using drugs laced with fentanyl. In the breakdown of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overdose death data by drug class, opioids accounted for the highest number of overdose deaths.
With so much being shut down for so long, how many people weren't able to access meetings or make the connections they needed for treatments?
The American Rescue Plan, which took effect in March, includes $4 billion for mental health and substance-disorder treatments. Is the money there?
What is the role that fentanyl is playing in the overdoses?