Why the opioid crisis matters to Kansas contractors (and your families) BY CAL BEYER AND MOLLY MEEK
The opioid crisis has plagued the nation since the late 1990s. The latest wave of overdose deaths struck the state of Kansas exceedingly hard. Overall overdose deaths in Kansas grew 43%, from 476 in 2020 to 680 in 2021. This percentage increase was second only to Alaska’s 75% increase. 53% of all overdoses in 2020 were attributable to opioids.
Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 80100 times stronger than morphine. Synthetic opioids are cheaper and easier to make and distribute. As a result, fentanyl is used to make counterfeit prescription pills that are deadly.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 107,622 overdose deaths in 2021. This was a 15% increase over 2020 following a 30% increase in 2019. Between 2019 and 2020, deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids increased to over 71,000 from almost 58,000.
Unfortunately, national and statewide data has not been compiled to show overdose deaths by industry or occupation. In the few jurisdictions where public health agencies have calculated this data, construction is either the top one or two industry impacted greatest by opioids.
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KCA
KANSAS CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
Why Construction Is Impacted Hard By Opioids and Overdose Deaths
