The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that overdose deaths, while still high, are dropping, except in two states, Nevada being one of them.
According to the CDC, the only other state that saw a rise in overdose deaths was South Dakota.
The CDC reports across the nation, there were an estimated 30,000 fewer overdose deaths last year compared to 2023.
Here in Nevada, we saw an increase of a little more than three percent.
The CDC reports overdose deaths last year statewide at just under 1,500, which is about 50 deaths more than the year prior.
While the report didn't go into exactly why Nevada may have seen an increase, some experts note that increased availability of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone may have played a role in bringing numbers down in other states, as well as more treatment options.
The Life Change Center provides a place for those struggling with opioid addiction here in Reno to find help, serving about 1,000 people per day throughout their three clinics.
"Drug addiction is very serious in our community, and it's very serious for those who experience it," said John Firestone, the Executive Director of the Life Change Center. "It's a mental illness. It interferes with people's ability to make good decisions, and right now more than ever it's a very dangerous time for the drug-using community."
He adds, "Fentanyl is a very strong opioid, and there are people out there who unfortunately can overdose easily in today's world."
The services at the Life Change Center are centered around medications for opioid use disorder like methadone and Narcan, but they also have addiction counseling, psychiatric care, behavioral health, peer recovery support, and family services.
Firestone goes on to explain the facility.
"It kind of operates a little bit like a gym," he said. "No one has to be here— they choose to come to get services, and they have the opportunity to use all those services if they need it or just one."
According to the Life Change Center, 100,000 people are dying a year from an overdose, and they say even though the number is going down nationwide they still have about three to four people a week that are dying from a fentanyl overdose in Washoe County.
Firestone says, "It's a very serious problem, and there's a lot more work that needs to be done. We're making progress. We had a 37% decrease in fentanyl-related overdoses in 2024, which is amazing, but there's still a lot of work to be done."
He says he thinks more treatment centers would be helpful in the fight against opioids, more access to Narcan, and lastly, more awareness all around.
"This affects everybody," he said. "Fentanyl is very strong; it's very dangerous."
