State reports drug overdose deaths continue to increase in Nevada

Today, the Nevada Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, which oversees the surveillance of opioid overdose in the state, announced that accidental drug overdose deaths among Nevadans increased 55% from 2019 to 2020.

Information from the Nevada State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) show deaths increased from 510 in 2019 to 788 in 2020. Overdoses among those younger than 25 years nearly tripled from 38 in 2019 to 106 in 2020.

In 2020, among overdose decedents in Nevada:

• 1 in 2 had a mental health problem
• 3 in 4 had an identified non-alcohol-related substance misuse problem
• 1 in 9 had ever received substance misuse treatment
• 1 in 9 had a history of previous overdose
• 1 in 11 had been recently released from a hospital prior to overdose
• 1 in 14 had a relapse (began opioid use after a period of quitting)

The opioid overdose antidote, Naloxone, is available free in communities statewide and the OD2A program encourages Nevadans to learn about this life-saving resource. Fatal overdose is avoidable and Naloxone can be obtained in Nevada without a prescription.

 
If an overdose occurs call 9-1-1 immediately. In 2015, Nevada adopted the Good Samaritan Overdose Law, which protects an individual from prosecution for many narcotic-related offenses when seeking medical assistance for another person for a drug-related emergency.

The Nevada State Opioid Response grant supports statewide Naloxone distribution. Information about Naloxone and trainings to use the opioid-antagonist can be found through NVOpioidResponse.org.

Nevadans are encouraged to reach out to the following resources if they are looking for Naloxone or treatment resources:

Crisis Support Services of Nevada
Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text: CARE to 839863

NAMI Peer Support Warm Line
775-241-4212

National Drug Helpline
1-844-289-0879

Treatment Connections- Treatment Finder

The Overdose Data to Action Program is the State of Nevada’s main source of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding (Grant #NU17CE925001) for overdose morbidity and mortality surveillance and reporting. The data included in this report is from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). Per federal reporting requirements, SUDORS data is reported twice a year. The first half of 2020’s data (January 1 to June 31, 2020) was reported earlier this year. This report will conclude the State’s fatal overdose reporting for 2020.