By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s overdose death rate has climbed to twice the national average, even as overdose deaths decline across most of the country, according to a new report by The New York Times.
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The state recorded an all-time high of 43.5 overdose deaths per 100,000 people last year. Meth and fentanyl continue to dominate Arizona’s drug trade, according to Dr. Matt Evans, an addiction medicine specialist with Circle the City.
Doctor points to heat as a key factor
Evans said Arizona’s extreme temperatures set the state apart from the rest of the country.
“I think it’s multiple things. The main thing in Arizona that differentiates us from the rest of the country is heat,” he explained. “We have extreme temperatures. We have both a hostile environment from the sun and the drug supply is unsafe as well.”
Of the 40 confirmed heat deaths recorded so far this summer in Maricopa County, 65% involved substances.
One promising sign
As of mid-June, Maricopa County recorded fewer non-fatal overdoses compared to the same period last year.
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The New York Times noted that drug deaths can take months to classify, meaning the full scope of this summer’s overdose toll will not be known until after the season ends.
Circle the City is among the nonprofits in the Phoenix area offering help to people struggling with addiction. Maricopa County also has resources on its website to help those in need.
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