This Year's Overdose Death Toll in Rhode Island Reaches 212

There have been 212 apparent accidental drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island since the first of the year, according to the most-recent numbers released by the state Department of Health.

Ten people died in the first 14 days of December alone, which shows that despite the rollout of Narcan to first responders, rampant opiate addiction persists in the Ocean State.

“If there is one holiday gift we can give this year, it is the gift of life and recovery. If you know someone who is struggling with drug abuse, help them get into treatment today. Give them the love and support they need to save their lives. These latest drug overdose numbers suggest that this epidemic is far from over. We need everyone to come together to stop this epidemic,” says Michael Fine, MD, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Of the dead, 152 were men, 60 were women and the overwhelming majority were white people across all age ranges: 40 were in their twenties, 61 in their thirties, 56 in their forties, 47 in their fifties and eight in their sixties.

Of the 212, 188 were white, 23 were black and one was Asian, the health department said.

Since Jan. 1, Rhode Island Emergency Services has administered 1,532 doses of Narcan. From April 2 to Nov. 25, emergency departments in cities and towns reported administering the life-saving drug 102 times.

“These numbers point to the need for new, life-saving initiatives like The Providence Center’s AnchorED program involving several area hospitals. Six months ago, recovery coaches began working in the emergency rooms, encouraging survivors of drug overdoses to get help. So far, nearly 90% of those seen by recovery coaches have chosen to get help. We are saving people from a second or third overdose by having mentors show them the path to recovery. These numbers demonstrate both hope and potential,” says Craig Stenning, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH).

Data from Rhode Island’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), which are available to the public on the Department’s website, continue to demonstrate that the amount and volume of prescribed controlled substances is not decreasing. In November, 110,859 individuals filled a prescription for a schedule 2, 3, or 4 drug in Rhode Island. Likewise, in November alone, 1.1 million doses of stimulants, 2.6 million doses of schedule 2 pain medicines (the increase from October reflects the addition of hydrocodone to schedule II drugs), and 5.2 million doses of benzodiazepines were prescribed.

37 percent of the screened cases involving overdose deaths involved fentanyl.

For more detailed data, go HERE.