There were 52 new HIV cases in 2017 among those who used opioids, up from 23 cases a year prior.
The CDC will provide resources to help local health officials determine the underlying factors of the spike.
“The sooner we can discover why these infections are happening now, the sooner we can use the most effective prevention interventions based on the evidence,” Al DeMaria, MD, infectious disease medical director and state epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said in a statement cited by NECN.
Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death in American under the age of 50, according to the CDC. Hepatitis C cases, contracted by intravenous drug use have also increased by 300 percent in the U.S.
More aritlces on opioids:
FDA to change how it evaluates addiction drugs
FDA rejects Pain Therapeutics’ opioid drug, shares plummet
FDA knew about dangerous opioid misuse, but failed to intervene, documents show
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.