The sharp increase in Hispanic and Latino deaths due to drug overdose has many experts concerned. | Canva
The sharp increase in Hispanic and Latino deaths due to drug overdose has many experts concerned. | Canva
Data has been released this month showing a sharp rise in the number of accidental drug overdoses in Nevada among those who identify as Hispanic or Latino.
"This increase was concerning because it was the highest among any demographic group," said Shawn Thomas, an epidemiologist with the University of Nevada-Reno. "We never really saw hospitalizations for drug overdose among Hispanic/Latinx persons increase, which is usually what tips us off to how mortality trends behave."
According to Nevada Today, the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Reno University-Nevada showed an increase in deaths from unintentional drug overdose among Hispanics from 2019 to 2020.
The Nevada Overdose Data to Action program at the School of Public Health, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shared the report on May 13.
From 2019 to 2020, Nevada saw a 120% increase in unintentional and undetermined drug overdose deaths among Hispanics and Latinos. Among all other races and ethnicities, the jump was 55%. The increase was seen primarily in young men. Responsible for many of the deaths was illicitly manufactured fentanyls, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin.
According to Elyse Monroy, Nevada Overdose Data to Action program manager: “Part of OD2A’s role as been to provide the community with data about increases in drug overdoses. We have been trying to inform the community so that we can convene community leaders to expand harm reduction strategies among younger Hispanic/Latinx persons to increase naloxone access, to prevent future drug overdose deaths.’’
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