Drug overdose deaths in the United States went from around 50,000 in 12 months in 2015 to around 70,000 in 12 months by mid-2017. It held in that range until mid-2019; then, six months prior to COVID’s entry upon the scene, it started climbing again. It quickly zoomed up to 100,000 by April, 2021—with fentanyl leading the way.
New data from the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly shows that the firearm homicide rate increased by 35% in 2020 (over 2019)—that is, during the first COVID year. Both homicides and suicides by firearms have been increasing from 2014-2020, but the 2020 homicide increase was far above any other period. New 2020 figures were reported this week by Dr. Debra Houry, CDC’s acting principal deputy director and head of the National Center for Injury Prevention.
