An astounding 1,100 people died of overdose in California in a SINGLE MONTH (Aug 2020).

This is nearly *double* the rate from August 2019, one year earlier, and *triple* the rate from 5 years ago.

Data: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306256

This is a public health emergency.
We urgently need to adopt the common-sense drug policy solutions that have been at our fingertips for decades.

@MorganGodvin https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-01-05/overdose-epidemic-fentanyl-treatment-buprenorphine-methadone

Recent efforts to authorize overdose prevention sites is a definite step in the right direction.

But we need the federal government to stand aside and let CA deal with its overdose crisis responsibly (+ support the efforts financially and logistically!) https://drugpolicy.org/press-release/2021/04/california-senate-passes-sb-57-authorizing-life-saving-overdose-prevention

Looking across the nation, similar stories can be seen in numerous states.

This is a national overdose crisis of unprecedented proportions.

https://github.com/akre96/cdc_overdose

@LeoBeletsky @DrPtw @pibourgois @latimes @DrugPolicyOrg @DrugPolicyNerds @alexhkral @ChelseaLShover @HarmReduction @chngin_the_wrld @DrSarahWakeman @drdrtsai @kelseycpriest @jeremyfaust @PieterBaker @RS_McNeil @laurentextor @Narcocast @ZachWritesStuff @maiasz @guyfelicella