The number of fatal opioid overdoses in the District rose quickly between 2014 and 2017. But both the naloxone expansion and hospital programs remain in the planning stages, city officials and others involved with the efforts acknowledged last week. In December, The Washington Post published a series on shortcomings in the District’s response to surging opioid overdoses. In 2017, there were 279 fatal opioid overdoses in the District, surpassing the city’s homicides. In 2018, opioid overdoses declined moderately, with 192 deaths through the end of November, according to the chief medical examiner’s office.

Source: Washington Post March 03, 2019 21:40 UTC