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When most folks hear about a person overdosing from drugs, they imagine this happening to someone far away, rather than themselves or someone they love. While warnings against drugs persist, the use of these narcotics very much remains a problem. The sad truth is that as long as drugs exist and people can access them, the risk of overdoses isn't going away. Nevertheless, many Americans will find themselves shocked, upon discovering a new poll that shines a light on just how common drug overdoses really are. The numbers are concerning, to say the least. They also speak to a need for real, actionable steps to emerge as a means of combating drug use in the United States.

Here's what you need to know

A KFF poll from just last month informs that for every ten adults, almost one of them personally has a relative who lost their life to a drug overdose. As drug overdoses continue to rise, one element driving them is fentanyl. Even the smallest amount of fentanyl can be enough to prompt an overdose or otherwise cause the person ingesting it to lose their life. Other insidious factors of this narcotic include the ease with which it can be smuggled into food, drink, and candy. Likewise, detecting this drug without the right knowledge and tools continues to pose a very tall order.

An overlap with mental health challenges

Drug use and mental health are more connected than most Americans realize. Time and time again, evidence has proven that people struggling with mental health may find themselves more susceptible to using or abusing drugs. Sadly, both the National Center for Injury Prevention and National Institute on Drug Abuse also confirm that most people facing substance abuse problems fail to receive the necessary help. This poses yet another risk factor for an overdose or other disastrous outcomes. Across the country, many Americans feel that directing more attention toward mental health will have a positive ripple effect, thus reaching folks who struggle with alcohol, drugs, and other vices. So far, there's a long way to go before this vision comes to pass.