'Eight people died in my arms in a week,' shared a recovering fentanyl addict at St. John of God Health Care Services, echoing a chilling reality across America. New CDC data reveals 110,236 U.S. overdose deaths in 2022 – a record fueled by illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin.
Two milligrams – about the weight of a pinch of salt – can be lethal. Worse, dealers now mix it with pills, cocaine, and even counterfeit medications, creating a 'Russian roulette' scenario for unsuspecting users. 'I had a good job… fentanyl destroyed everything,' the survivor told CGTN Stringer.
Middle-class communities are hit hard as addiction rates soar post-pandemic. Health experts call it a 'silent tsunami,' with synthetic opioids accounting for 66% of all U.S. overdose deaths in 2022. Could better addiction resources turn the tide? Share your thoughts below.
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U.S. recovering addict: 8 people died due to fentanyl overdoses
cgtn.com