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Packages containing fentanyl and carfentanil are stored in the detention room of the federal inspection site of postal facilities at JFK International Airport after being discovered by customs and border protection officers from the United States on this archive photo. (Photo: Seth Harrison, The Journal News)
An increasing number of African-Americans are dying from an overdose of fentanyl, a problem that has long been considered a problem primarily for white communities, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention.
the The most lethal drug in America killed 18,335 people in 2016, compared to 1,663 in 2011.
According to the analysis, non-Hispanic whites remain the most affected by the overall fentanyl overdose. African Americans experienced the largest increase in deaths, with an increase of 140.6% each year. Hispanics experienced an increase of 118.3% per year.
"These are pretty amazing numbers in terms of the annual percentage increase," said Merianne Spencer, senior researcher at the CDC, at HealthDay News.
More: Report: Doctors Prescribe Strong Fentanyl Prescription Pain Medications
More: Antonella Barba, former star of "American Idol", accused of having sold nearly 3 kg. fentanyl
Overdoses of fentanyl deaths among men also increased by 2.8 times between 2013 and 2016 compared to women.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed to treat pain. A type of fentanyl called fentanyl immediate release, transmucosal, is 100 times more powerful than morphine.
Most overdoses are related to illegally made fentanyl that is often mixed with heroin, cocaine or other drugs, notes the CDC.
More: Customs officers make the largest fentanyl seizure ever recorded at the Arizona border crossing
Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets
Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/03/22/fentanyl-drug-overdose-deaths-african-americans-hispanics/3243635002/
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