State reports 191 opioid overdoses, 15 deaths during June 15-22 period

JOSIAH DESTIN

Fifteen opioid-suspected deaths were recorded last week in Arizona, the state Department of Health Services said Monday.

Those deaths were among the 191 opioid overdose cases overall recorded from June 15-22, the agency said, further highlighting a problem that has drawn national attention in the past year.

The opioid epidemic has prompted a state and national public-health response, with measures to raise awareness about the dangers of overprescribing pain pills and to make the overdoserescue medication naloxone more widely available.

Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order on June 13 requiring ADHS to present opioid-related statistics each week.

ADHS said there were a reported 18 babies with drug-related withdrawal symptoms last week.

In Maricopa County, there were 106 overdoses last week and 50 in Pima County.

There were 790 reported opioid deaths in Arizona in 2016.