Arizona health officials are beginning to collect more information about suspected drug overdoses.
This week, the state public health lab expanded its blood screening in an effort to understand which exact drugs are causing deaths.
Dr. Cara Christ is head of the Department of Health Services and says this data will shed more light on the opioid epidemic in Arizona.
“Is it just one drug? Are we seeing new types of opioids in our community? Are we seeing opioids that are more dangerous are they prescription versus heroin?” Christ asked.
Arizona recently declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency — with on average two people dying every day.
