What You Need to Know - Week of October 10th
The most important weekly updates for you to keep your community healthy
In this Update:
1. COVID-19 Metrics
2. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
3. “Rainbow Fentanyl” pills circulating throughout Arizona
COVID-19 Metrics
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In the past week, there has been an average of: |
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Cases per day |
525 |
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Deaths per day |
5 |
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Compared to two weeks ago: |
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Cases per day |
Decreased by 8% ↘ |
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Deaths per day |
Decreased by 56% ↘ |
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Hospitalizations per day |
Decreased by 2% ↘ |
2. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
Hispanic Heritage Month has officially been celebrated annually from September 15th to October 15th since 1962. There is so much to celebrate with over 400 years of Hispanic heritage and history in Arizona! The 2022 Hispanic Heritage month theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” encouraging all to empower the voices of Hispanic individuals and communities. This Hispanic Heritage month, amplify the voices of the Hispanic people and places around you by checking out local Hispanic organizations, including Chicanos Por La Causa and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Hispanic art can be seen throughout Arizona, with showcases at the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Centers, murals created by Hispanic artists throughout Southern Arizona, and the Arizona Heritage Project, an online gallery of over 4000 pictures highlighting Hispanic heritage!
3. “Rainbow Fentanyl” pills circulating throughout Arizona
Opioids can effectively reduce severe pain in the short term, but they can be very addictive, especially if they are misused. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been increasingly found throughout Arizona in recent years and has been found to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, making it extremely dangerous and addictive. Recently, the Drug Enforcement Agency issued a warning about brightly-colored fentanyl pills circulating throughout Arizona and 18 other states. The deceiving-looking pills resemble candy and may target younger children and adolescents.
The rising rates of fentanyl use are alarming, but by learning preventative measures and bringing awareness to the issue, you can help yourself and communities throughout Arizona. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
- Counterfeit opioids look very similar to prescribed medications; learn how to spot the difference between real and counterfeit opioids.
- Know someone who needs someone to talk to about opioid use and misuse? A bilingual hotline is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 at 1-800-622-4357.