NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN HIT PARTICULARLY HARD BY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKA NATIVES SAW A FIVE-FOLD INCREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS BETWEEN 1999 AND 2015.
THE C-D-C SAYS, OVER THAT PERIOD, THE INCREASE IN DEATHS WAS HIGHER FOR NATIVE AMERICANS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP…WITH MORE THAN 20 DEATHS PER 100-THOUSAND PEOPLE. AND OFFICIALS SAY THE DEATH RATE MAY BE EVEN HIGHER DUE TO INCONSISTENCIES WITH DEATH CERTIFICATES.
