Washington
THE coast-to-coast opioid epidemic is swamping hospitals, with government data showing 1.27 million emergency room visits or inpatient stays for opioid-related issues in a single year.
The 2014 numbers, the latest available for every state and the District of Columbia, reflect a 64 per cent increase for inpatient care and a 99 per cent jump for emergency room treatment compared to figures from 2005. Their trajectory likely will keep climbing if the epidemic continues unabated.
The report, released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on Tuesday, puts Maryland at the very top of the national list for inpatient care. The state, already struggling with overdoses from...