CDC Launches Educational Campaigns to Combat Drug Overdose Deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched four complementary education campaigns intended to reach young adults 18-34 to save more lives from drug overdose deaths. The campaigns feature information about the prevalence and dangers of fentanyl, the risks and consequences of mixing drugs, the life-saving power of naloxone, and the importance of reducing stigma around drug use to encourage treatment and recovery.
The campaigns were developed in collaboration with young adults who reported using drugs, as well as peer recovery professionals. Each campaign includes new resources on all four topics to help individuals make informed decisions, access needed services, and ultimately reduce the rise in drug overdoses and overdose deaths.
The four campaigns are focused on:
According to the CDC, drug overdoses have claimed nearly 900,000 lives in the U.S. over the past 20 years. Recent reports show that drug overdose deaths have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, outpacing overdose death rates from any previous year.
More information from the CDC is available here.