COVID-19 Omicron Detections RAISE Opioid Overdose Concerns
Salwan Georges
Concerns over overdose rates arise in the United States, as a new COVID-19 variant, omicron, gets detected in several states.
The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has currently been detected in multiple states within the United States. Omicron is infecting people in states that saw an increase in overdose-related deaths as a result of the previous year’s COVID-19 pandemic.
As of the second week of December, 38 states have detected the new variant within their borders. Of these states, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New York have experienced at least a 30% increase in the rate of opioid overdose deaths within the last year. The rise in infection rates of the new omicron variant has led experts to question if the United States can properly prepare itself to prevent another surge of opioid overdose deaths amidst another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“No, I don't think we’re better equipped. Not now,” says Dr. Kolodny, the Medical Director of Opioid Policy Research at the Heller School of Brandeis University.
The United States has begun the implementation of larger Narcan distribution programs in response to the increase in overdose deaths. States such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania have seen progress within the front, distributing the medication through distribution events to dispensing machines in highly affected areas. Narcan acts as an antagonist to opioids and can be used to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.
“When opioid overdose becomes the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, making an antidote for an opioid overdose more easily available is a no-brainer. We’ve made great strides in increasing access to Narcan, but we can do better. Any place where anyone can experience an overdose, we should have Narcan available,” said Dr. Kolodny.
In the 12-month period between April 2019 and 2020, over 100,000 Americans died from overdoses, which is the first time that the United States surpassed the six figure mark in the country’s history.
“People who are opioid addicted are more likely to die because the drug supply became more dangerous during the pandemic. The stress of the pandemic can cause people to relapse,” said Dr. Bryce Pardo, a leading drug policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. “Also, COVID-19 has and can interfere with the ability of people to get treatment.”
The data has shown that use of opioids becomes riskier during times of isolation as an overdose at home won’t likely be discovered by someone who could reverse the overdose with naloxone. Those seeking treatment tend to be isolated during the pandemic, preventing easy access to recovery.
“In the same way that COVID-19 has made the opioid crisis worse, omicron signals that the pandemic is going to potentially last longer. The longer that COVID-19 lasts the longer it will interfere with the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Kolodny.
Infection rates of the new omicron variant have sharply increased since this year's Thanksgiving. Since then, states such as New York have seen a consistent rising number of cases and as of December 16, observed 17,000 new cases. The number of new cases in New York hasn’t been this high since January 9, when less than 10% of the United States population was even vaccinated.
“How the new variant affects the opioid crisis remains to be seen. If omicron is like delta, then it could result in returns to social distancing and isolation, which may result in riskier drug use behaviors or practices,” said a spokesperson for the Suboxone Treatment Clinic.
The looming probability of isolation becomes more and more realistic as infection rates increase. Universities such as Cornell and NYU have been some of the first to act as cases have become increasingly high among their students. Cornell University observed 900 new cases in a single week among fully vaccinated students, sending all in-person students back home a week before their holiday season began. New York University acted similarly, deciding to go fully remote in their final week of the semester.
If properly prepared for a new wave of isolation and social distancing, the United States could effectively curtail the number of deaths that result from opioid usage among overdosers. If not, it should be expected that the country will experience a similar outcome as to the record-breaking number of fatalities in the year prior.
“I would like to think that we have a better handle on covid variants today,” said Dr. Pardo, “but we will probably continue to be unprepared to deal with higher overdose burdens.”
