In recent years, the number of those who have died from opioid overdose deaths has drastically increased all over the country and Alaska.
The State of Alaska provides lots of different data around opioid use in Alaska. In a recent 12-month period, 423 individuals visited an emergency department due to an opioid overdose emergency, 142 babies were born and immediately suffered opioid withdrawal, and 75 individuals died due to an opioid overdose.
In addition to death, opioids can lead to various other outcomes including:
- Transmission of long-lasting viral infections like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C and B
- Bacterial infections of the skin, bloodstream, and heart
The opioid epidemic is impacting individuals, families and communities throughout Alaska.
