While heroin-related deaths are projected to increase slightly from 2015 (a projected increase of 5.8%) by the end of this year, fentanyl-related deaths have seen a steady spike since 2012. Fentanyl-related deaths increased by 151% between 2014 and 2015 and is expected to see an increase of 77% by the end of 2016.

The data released by the State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner goes back to 2012, in which there were only 14 recorded fentanyl-related deaths which means that if the total fentanyl-related deaths for 2016 reaches the projected number, those deaths will have seen a more than twentyfold increase since 2012.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is prescribed to patients with severe pain, including some cancer patients. Law enforcement officials have noted an increase in heroin mixed with fentanyl. In New London and other local municipalities, police have pointed to heroin laced with fentanyl as the cause of recent overdoses.

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Other prescribed opiate painkillers have also been involved in overdose deaths, often when combined with heroin. To combat the abuse of prescription drugs, police departments regularly host drug takeback events and well as hosting drug drop boxes. Below you’ll find a map showing the location of every drop box in the state.

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In addition, state-run prescription monitoring programs (PMP) are databases used to track the prescribing and dispensing of controlled prescription drugs to patients. Below you will find state-by-state information for their PMPs. Missouri is the only state without a PMP and while Nebraska and D.C. have legislation enacting PMPs, they are not currently operational.

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