**Today, the Centers for Disease Control released new data reporting drug overdose deaths in the United States surpassed 100,000 in a 12-month period for the first time**

**Today’s CDC announcement comes mere months after data showed 93,000 people — a nearly 29% increase from 2019 reports — suffered from overdose-related deaths in 2020**

Washington, D.C. — Today, the co-chairs of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force released the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control released updated year-to-date data on U.S. drug overdose deaths, reporting for the first time that overdose deaths in the United States surpassed 100,000 in a 12-month period:

“Just a few short months ago, our country was shocked by a 29% rise in overdose deaths in 2020 — but today’s data reveals just how much the COVID-19 pandemic and fentanyl have driven this crisis. Our hearts and prayers go out to the friends, family, and loved ones of the more than 100,000 Americans who died of an overdose this year. Every life lost to an overdose is a tragedy, and this new data is a terrible reminder of how important our Task Force’s work is.

“The Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force’s 2021 Legislative Agenda addresses the addiction and mental health crises head-on and advances evidence-based policies to save lives and expand access to treatment. Our work has never been more important, and we remain committed to ending this crisis.”

Earlier this year, the co-chairs of the Task Force announced the 2021 Legislative Agenda, a comprehensive package of bipartisan bills that outlines ongoing bipartisan efforts in Congress to address the dual addiction and mental health public health crises that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force hosts regular meetings with stakeholders, attends site visits, and creates and advances commonsense, evidence-based, and bipartisan policies that will save lives.

The entire 2021 Legislative Agenda can be viewed HERE.

--

The Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force merges Rep. Trone’s Freshmen Working Group on Addiction and the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, which was co-chaired by Reps. Kuster and Fitzpatrick in the 116th Congress and founded by Rep. Kuster in 2015. 

The purpose of the new Task Force is to build on those efforts to make the most progress possible on addiction and mental health in the 117th Congress.

###