DENVER — The number of drug-related overdose deaths in 2023 is at a record high, according to data from the Denver City and County Medical Examiner’s Office.
of The office reported In 2023, 522 people died from overdose, 342 of which were fentanyl-related. For comparison, there were a total of 207 drug overdose deaths in 2018, 17 of which were fentanyl-related deaths.
“Honestly, I wasn’t too surprised when I saw how much they had raised. That workload was felt here all year long,” said the assistant medical examiner and chief medical officer for the city of Denver. said Dr. Stirling McLaren, an expert in the field. “I think it’s frustrating. I really hope we can come up with some way to help people.”
As of Tuesday, approximately 100 cases were awaiting final autopsy results, and some had not yet received toxicology results, McLaren said.
“The number 522 could still go up, and it probably will go up,” McLaren told Denver7.
According to McLaren, the biggest problem seen in drug-related overdose cases in 2023 stems from the use of multiple substances at once.
“Most drug overdose deaths involve multiple substances…not just fentanyl, but also methamphetamine and other drugs. The reason I mentioned methamphetamine in the first place is that methamphetamine Because it’s most commonly seen in combination with fentanyl,” McLaren said, adding, “If we had given Narcan, would this person who died from fentanyl and methamphetamine still be alive? It’s really difficult,” he said.
McLaren said the city of Denver is working diligently to address this issue.
“We’re hopeful that we’re moving forward with some things and that we can partner with the right community partners to make the right decisions about how we can take a few steps back and approach this. Right? We need to go back and think about where we can prevent these deaths, and I think the city is currently working on many of those efforts,” McLaren said.
Denver to record drug overdose deaths in 2023
Unfortunately, Brooke Perez deeply understands how important it is to consider best practices for supporting people experiencing substance use disorder. Perez lost his sister Krystle to a drug overdose in 2017. Then, in 2020, he lost his older brother Kevan to an overdose.
“both [Krystle] And Kevan had been battling addiction for over 10 years. And we knew it was coming. And they were either homeless or in treatment facilities. “And that was very difficult for all of us,” Perez said. “I didn’t just lose them, I lost a part of me. My life was surrounded by them and everything they did. And you know, we’re surrounded by them. We were all a year apart, so we did everything together. So I really had to find out who I was again. I wasn’t a sister anymore. And now I was trying to find out who I was in this life. It was quite difficult – and still is. ”
Perez believes people living with substance use disorders are not getting the attention and resources they deserve, and said Denver’s rising number of drug overdose deaths shows that. .
“What are we doing to prevent that?” Perez asked. “There’s such a stigma that you have homeless people living on the streets and people walking past them and acting like they’re trash. You see people who say they’re addicted to heroin. And then there’s the stigma that comes with that. If that stigma was dispelled and eradicated, if it disappeared from our society, people would not be affected by this disease, including mental health issues. What would we be like if we were more helpful and welcoming? What would that look like?”
She founded a nonprofit organization in honor of her two brothers. KK Fearless, is hosting a benefit concert to raise money for treatment facilities. Perez said music was chosen as the basis for the foundation because Kristol and Kevan had musical talents.
“During treatment, they were constantly facing and drawn toward the instrument,” Perez explained. “It was really powerful to see what it did for them in their journey, and that’s what we want to do with this organization.”
Perez wants to open a coffee shop that will employ people who have finished their treatment and need work. She’s been running a coffee shop for several years, and she wants to see her nonprofit achieve its goals.
Perez said the best way to support KK Fearless is to Donation of money or musical instruments.
Ultimately, she hopes the community understands that the 522 people who died from drug-related overdoses in 2023 is not a statistic.
“These people are not just numbers. And what I’ve been talking about with my sister and my brother is that we’re not going to write them off as just numbers,” Perez said. “All those guys, they’re more than just a number.”
If you or someone you know is in trouble, We have resources to help you.can make a call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) We are available for free and confidentially at any time, day or night. The number is 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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