Preliminary numbers show decrease in opioid-related deaths in Alaska, DHSS says

ANCHORAGE (KTUU) – Preliminary numbers from the Department of Health and Social Services show Alaska gained ground in the fight against opioids between 2017 and 2018.

The welcomed numbers show what state officials are calling significant decreases in deaths from fentanyl and opioid-related overdoses — but DHSS cautions that the numbers are still preliminary. Death reporting is approximately two weeks behind the current date.

According to the DHSS report, deaths due to non-methadone synthetic opioids like Fentanyl and Tramadol dropped 62 percent, from 37 in 2017 to 14 in 2018.

Adding to that, a 35 percent decrease in overall deaths due to drug overdoses over the same span, from 141 in 2017 to 92 in 2018.

The preliminary data also shows a noted drop in emergency department visits that appeared to be related to opioid overdose – spiking to nearly 40 in early 2017, down to five by the end of December 2018.

Preliminary statistics show decreases in opioid-related overdose deaths (DHSS)

Andy Jones, DHSS Office of Substance Misuse and Prevention director, says these early indications are not just numbers – rather, they’re lives that have been saved.

“It’s Alaskans. We’re saving lives,” Jones said. “The entire state, as community members, I think all of us are pretty taken aback – because we’re still in the midst of an epidemic, we’re still losing Alaskans. But it’s really encouraging seeing these numbers go down.”

Jones says it’s hard to pin down the driving factor of these preliminary numbers, but attributes them in large part to a statewide effort to make Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose, more readily available. But he says Narcan — a brand name of the drug– is only a temporary solution.

“It’s a tourniquet,” Jones said. “And a tourniquet can only save you for so long, and that’s why we need to focus on what I would call a ‘disaster’ in long-term recovery. And that’s building the system appropriately in our state.”

DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum says the department is working with the new administration on a comprehensive plan to address substance issues, involving a number of substances, in the state.

“With the White House, we have the national support of drug control policy,” Crum said. “And we’re working together, along with using federal resources on how we can address this and keep this going.”

Crum says while there are benefits to their active targeting of opioids, the state has ongoing issues with alcohol abuse and methamphetamines that need to be addressed.