# 151

Maryland reports that deaths from Heroin OD are down in 2018, but deaths from Cocaine and Fentanyl are up; Fentanyl deaths "continue a staggering rise."

The number of fentanyl-related deaths in Maryland reached an all-time high in 2017 and is on track to continue increasing in 2018, officials said, part of a nationwide overdose epidemic being driven by the powerful synthetic drug.

Maryland fatalities caused by fentanyl jumped 42 percent from 2016 to 2017 — from 1,119 to 1,594 — even as deaths related to heroin use declined, according to data released by the Maryland Department of Health on Thursday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/fentanyl-related-deaths-continue-staggering-rise-in-maryland/2018/07/26/cd33f406-90fc-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?utm_term=.07592cd04e24