RI Sees Spike In Drug Overdose Deaths Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

PROVIDENCE, RI — The latest report from the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force shows a steep increase in overdose deaths in the past months, compared to the same time last year. In the first half of the year, overdose deaths in the state climbed significantly, up by one quarter overall.

According to data from the Rhode Island Department of Health, overdose deaths involving any drug increased 24 percent from Jan. 1 to June 30, compared to the same time last year. The numbers for opioid-related overdose deaths were even more stark, up 33 percent in the same time period.

According to the task force's findings, Rhode Island is on track to have a record-breaking year for overdose deaths in 2020: surpassing the previous record year, 2014, by 25 percent or more.

"The rise in drug overdose deaths precedes and is likely worsened by COVID-19," the task force explained in their findings. "The crisis has changed — but the root causes of this change are not clear, and that confusion means that we may be missing chances to save lives."

The task force pointed to several "early emerging themes" in what might be behind the increase, noting that there is no single answer. These include the rise of illicit fentanyl, issues f racial equity, lack of treatment options, the lack of street outreach and harm reduction and the pandemic itself, which has served to expose long-standing cracks in economic, health and community structures across the country.

"COVID-19 stressed an already deteriorating and fragile system and individual situations," the task force said, pointing to issues of isolation and reduced shelter capacity that helped push people in recovery back into using.

The full presentation and findings are available on the task force's website.