October 23-31 is RED RIBBON WEEK is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. The National Family Partnership started Red Ribbon Week after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was brutally tortured and murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. After his death, people started wearing red ribbons to honor Kiki’s sacrifice. Today, millions of people celebrate Red Ribbon Week by wearing red ribbons, participating in community anti-drug events, and pledging to live drug-free lives.
Provisional data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023—a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022.
The data is featured in an interactive web data visualization. The 2024 data presented in this visualization are provisional – they are incomplete and subject to change.
The new data show overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083 in 2023. While overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) increased.
Since 2019, the State of Maine has made State-supplied naloxone available to organizations and members of the community that wish to have-it-on-hand in case of an opioid-overdose emergency or to distribute to individuals that use opioids as well as their loved ones. From July 2019 to December 2023 the Maine Naloxone Distribution Initiative and the Maine Attorney General’s Naloxone Distribution Program has distributed over 458,000 doses of naloxone to communities throughout Maine.
Addiction can happen to anyone.
One in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder. There is not one single driving factor that leads to addiction. Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress, trauma, or to help with mental health issues. Some may even develop opioid use disorder after misusing opioids they are prescribed by doctors. In any case, using drugs over time makes it easier to become addicted.
There is not one single driving factor that leads to addiction. Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress, trauma, or to help with mental health issues. Some may even develop opioid use disorder after misusing opioids they are prescribed by doctors. In any case, using drugs over time makes it easier to become addicted.
Like other chronic diseases such as heart disease or asthma, treatment for drug addiction usually isn't a cure. But addiction can be managed successfully. Treatment enables people to counteract addiction's disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives.
Resources for Families Coping with Mental and Substance Use Disorders
When a family member is experiencing a mental or substance use disorder, it can affect more than just the person in need of recovery. Evidence has shown that some people have a genetic predisposition for developing mental and substance use disorders, and may be at greater risk based on environmental factors such as having grown up in a home affected by a family member’s mental health or history of substance use.
This podcast provides a platform where parents and caregivers can get informed, be prepared, and take action by having open and honest conversations with their kids about substance use and mental health. In episode #6 we hear from Ben Cort, a father who is in recovery. Ben talks about the opportunities, the occasional discomfort, and the urgency around how he helped his kids navigate away from drinking alcohol and using drugs at an early age.