White House: Deaths due to drug overdoses hit 88,000 during pandemic

• "Illicitly manufactured fentanyl and synthetic opioids are the primary drivers of this increase."

By the numbers: That is almost 20,000 more drug overdose deaths than reported in 2019, which saw 70,630 deaths, per the CDC.

• Nearly 841,000 people have died from a drug overdose since 1999, the CDC notes. Rates have been on the rise annually since then, the Independent reports.
• Opioids remain the main cause of drug overdose fatalities, accounting for 70.6% of drug deaths in 2019.

LeBelle also revealed a plan designed by the Biden administration to help address "the overdose and addiction crisis" during its first year, saying that "new data suggest that COVID-19 has exacerbated the epidemic."

• The administration will look to remove "unnecessary barriers" that prevent the prescription of buprenorphine — a drug proven to help patients with opioid use disorder, per NPR.

• It plans to explore making the emergency provisions implemented during the pandemic permanent, including allowing health officials to treat patients with medication for opioid use disorder through telehealth without requiring in-person visits.
• The White House plans to establish policy to help pregnant women suffering from substance abuse to get prenatal care and addiction treatment.
• The plan says President Biden believes people should not be incarcerated for drug abuse, and should instead be offered treatment.