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Statistics show that the number of opioid-related overdoses in Maryland has increased by 14.8% in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period of last year.
According to data released Friday by the Maryland Department of Health, overdoses of opioids killed 1,185 people from January to June. This compares to 1,032 for the same period last year.
The Baltimore Sun reports that fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has played a role in more than three-quarters of overdose deaths in that state.
Clay Stamp is executive director of the opioid operations command center in the state.
Although prescription drugs were the biggest problem at the beginning of the opioid epidemic, Stamp said these deaths had decreased and the problem was now related to illicit drugs.
Information from: The Baltimore Sun
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