Protesters in 2019 call on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take action on drug overdoses. | Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

America’s new epidemic is likely making a previous epidemic deadlier.

America’s Covid-19 epidemic is likely making its drug overdose epidemic even worse.

While there’s no good national data for the year yet, local and state jurisdictions have reported increases in overdose deaths. According to the American Medical Association, as of July 20, more than 35 states have reported increases in drug-related deaths and other concerns with drug use and mental illness. Some municipalities reported overdose deaths increasing by 20, 40, or 60 percent — or more.

Even before the pandemic, there were signs that the drug overdose crisis was worsening. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found drug overdose deaths hit 72,000 in 2019, up almost 5 percent