North Carolina state Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Mooresville). | Courtesy Photo
North Carolina state Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Mooresville). | Courtesy Photo
There have been at least 622 opioid overdose deaths in North Carolina since April, a possible side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, one state senator believes.
The number of opioid-related deaths since April 30 is an 11% increase from the same period in 2019, Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Moorseville) posted to her Facebook page on June 16.
"We cannot ignore the fact that as businesses remain closed and citizens remain unemployed, opioid overdoses and suicide rates continue to rise," Sawyer said in her post.
The Republican senator said she supported legislation to address these health and public safety issues, such as the 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act, which awards funding to behavioral health and crisis services.
"North Carolina's addiction and behavioral health organizations throughout the state have been overwhelmed," Sawyer said in her post. "Many addiction treatment providers have had to close programs, have been unable to admit new patients, and many employees have been laid off or furloughed as a result of financial strain."
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