Between 2019 and 2020, illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased substantially in western, southern, and midwestern states, CDC reported.

In the ongoing aftermath of the opioid crisis, it’s common for physicians to attempt to wean some patients off opioids in favor of alternative means of pain management. But while the goal is increased safety for the patient, opioid tapering does not come without risks. A recent study in JAMA found a significant association between opioid dose tapering and both overdose and mental health crises.

Non-Hispanic Black individuals in 4 US states experienced a 38% increase in the rate of opioid overdose deaths from 2018 to 2019, while the rates for other race and ethnicity groups held steady or decreased, according to a new NIH study.