The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued a statewide overdose spike alert.
Health officials said there were 55 reports of people receiving care for suspected drug overdoses between March 10th and March 16th, meeting the threshold for a statewide alert.
Before the alert, the state averaged 41 non-fatal overdoses a week.
Rhode Island's last statewide alert was in 2023. Health officials encourage residents to stay informed and help reduce overdose deaths by signing up for alerts, knowing the signs of an overdose, ordering free naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and learning about safer drug use.
(Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty Images