Drug deaths fall nationwide but rise in Nevada and 4 other states, CDC study reveals

A recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows drug-related deaths across most of the country are trending down.

The study focuses on data compiled between June of 2023 and June of 2024.

Nevada is one of five states including Washington, Oregon, Utah and Alaska shaded orange, meaning drug-related deaths have actually increased over that specific period of time.

Marcy Blinn works with Sierra Health and Wellness Centers, a group aimed at helping community members on their road to recovery.

Blinn says that personal trauma is one factor that could be driving the trend.

"Trauma is the number one gateway drug. Right? And so, when we're looking at how we process trauma and how we look at trauma today... my trauma is going to look different than yours. But, that doesn't mean that yours doesn't affect you in the same way."

According to the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office, at the start of 2024, the county reported just 76 drug-related deaths with 32 of those deaths relating to the drug 'Fentanyl.'

Fast forward to the second quarter of 2024, which starts around April, the county reported 93 drug-related deaths, with 52 deaths relating to 'Fentanyl.'

Blinn says part of the spike could also be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're all on that post-COVID trauma. And so people are back out there and the market is flooded with all sorts of Fentanyl fakes... things that individuals think are Xanax or even Heroin.... when truly, it's Fentanyl."

The Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released data from the third and fourth quarters of the year, but Blinn says that there is always a way to help, and that starts with 'Narcan' education.

Narcan is a medicine that works quickly to reverse an opioid overdose.

"Truly the best thing would be to go to one of those really short overdose awareness or Narcan training classes."