Overdose-induced deaths surged yet again in 2021 to record highs, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Wednesday. The plan embraces the “harm reduction” approach to reducing drug-related deaths, which involves trying to make drug use safer, rather than enforce abstinence. Experts say the ongoing increase in overdose deaths is largely caused by social isolation and economic hardship, both of which intensified during the pandemic. An increasing share of substances marketed as drugs like Oxycontin, Xanax or Adderall now includes fentanyl, studies have found. Critics say the Biden administration has not done enough to crack down on fentanyl shipments crossing the southern border from Mexico.

Source: Fox News May 11, 2022 16:19 UTC