Maryland Hits Record-High Drug Deaths, Fueled By Fentanyl

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland notched a record-high number of drug deaths last year, fueled by an alarming increase of fentanyl-related fatalities amid an escalating epidemic.

Newly released figures from Maryland's health department show there were 2,282 intoxication deaths in 2017. Nearly 90 percent of those deaths were opioid-related.

The hard-hit state's fentanyl-related deaths continue to soar, increasing from 1,119 in 2016 to an all-time high of 1,594 in 2017. That's an increase of some 42 percent. The large majority of those deaths occurred in Baltimore, Maryland's major city.

Opioid addiction is killing Marylanders by the thousands.

"Any corner you go to you can get the heroin. People, I mean, they're overdosing left and right like it's no big deal." One Marylander said.

People came together to address the crisis Friday in Baltimore. Congressman Elijah Cummings and Senator Elizabeth Warren led a round table discussion on the problem and the CARE Act, their bill for long-term funding, and getting it passed.

"What Congressman Cummings and I are doing are offering solutions, and we're going to keep working on it until we get everybody on board," Warren said. "We need this change and we need it now."

"I have no doubt that they will come around, there is too much pain and too much suffering, in all of our districts, to not do something." Cummings said.

The CARE Act mandate provides $100 billion dollars in long-term funding.

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