Drug overdoses are surging in Northwest Arkansas — in line with a national trend tied to the rise of fentanyl.
Why it matters: Fentanyl overdoses are the No. 1 cause of death in people ages 18-49 nationwide, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. Two-thirds of overdose deaths in 2021 involved the painkiller.
Zoom in: The number of fatal drug overdoses in Benton and Washington counties nearly doubled the past three years — from 42 in 2020 to 74 in 2022, according to data from the county coroners.
- Overdose deaths involving fentanyl more than quadrupled in Washington County, from four in 2020 to 17 in 2022. The drug was a factor in about half the county’s fatal overdoses last year.
