Photo: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan.
This Aug. 29, 2018 photo shows an arrangement of prescription Oxycodone pills in New York.
Photo: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan.
This Aug. 29, 2018 photo shows an arrangement of prescription Oxycodone pills in New York.
KSTP
Updated: December 03, 2020 11:00 AM
Created: December 03, 2020 10:37 AM
Minnesota health officials are reporting a larger increase in drug overdose death for 2020.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, drug overdose deaths have increased by 31% during the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019. During the first half of 2019, 373 overdose deaths were reported, while 490 overdose deaths have been reported during the first half of 2020.
MDH officials said overdose death began to "increase sharply" in March. Nearly 80% of opioid-involved deaths involved synthetic opioids.
MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Minnesotans who are suffering with addiction are still able to receive support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Deaths due to overdoses are preventable even amid all the troubles we’ve had this year," Malcolm said. "We need to work together to find ways to better support those suffering from substance use disorders, but it is important to know that there are resources available and those resources can still be accessed safely even with COVID-19 restrictions in place."
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