Posted on 10/02/2024 1:29:14 AM PDT by Libloather
Deaths from fentanyl appear to be going down for the first time in a decade after reaching astronomic levels - but experts warn there's a 'horrific' reason behind it.
They say the drug is simply running out of people to kill, after claiming the lives of around 320,000 Americans in the last decade.
Last year, around 75,000 people in the US were killed by the lethally potent drug, which was slightly down on the previous year and the first time deaths have fallen annually since 2011.
Dr Caleb Banta-Green, an addiction expert at the University of Washington, says King County, which includes Seattle, is like a microcosm for the rest of the country.
Deaths from fentanyl there plummeted nearly 10 percent at the end of 2023 compared to the last quarter - but Dr Banta-Green believes the outbreak is 'self-extinguishing'.
He told local news station KUOW: 'There are only so many people who are using a drug, and when it has that high of a lethality rate, it will eventually — in a really horrific way — start to self-extinguish itself like a forest fire.
'So, it's literally burning out the fuel. The horrible thing in this instance is the fuel is people.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“And making drugs illegal makes them expensive.
Which means there is a high profit margin for illegal activity.
So, more illegal = more drug cartels = more crime.”
Yep. Aside from the fact most kids try drugs because there is a psychological high and excitement with “getting away” with something they know they are not supposed to do. Every child is rebellious at certain ages. We ALL did it...
It’s all fun and games until it gets your child.
Because if the debate I looked it up last night. In 2022 (more recent years data is in). illegal drug used killed more Americans than gun deaths and car wrecks COMBINED.
CBS was being biased when they choose to ask the question about age 1-19 main cause of death being firearms. In just a few more years overdose deaths passes it and “never looks back”.
“For every addict who dies, 1000 take their place.”
Not for very long... If the deaths were more rampant and in our faces everyday it would be overwhelming. And I am going to give some credit to the species for being observant when it directly and personally affects them such as a loved one. They actually do learn from this.
“Addiction does not discriminate. Sometimes extremely skilled and very useful people slip into addiction.”
Too bad, It is still a mental impairment if they did not learn from all the more common mass personal connections in their faces if they were legal. That is their own personal responsibility.
“Let them, legalize it and weed out the weak of the species. Most drug abusers are mentally impaired liberals and parasites. I never understood the war on drugs.”
Like the vaccines. A way to cull the herd of stupid people.
Any disease that kills its host too quickly kills the disease.
CC
😂
“I do care about those who unknowingly take the drug.”
It’s being put in meds like Xanax, too, or so I’ve heard.
One problem is that people start sometimes very early in life, and when you are talking opiates it's so highly addictive that it becomes a long term problem.
I had a challenging childhood and played in a band from a very young age. I took lots of different drugs (hallucinogens, barbiturates, speed, hash, weed, etc.) well before starting high school. I haven't done anything since freshman year of high school, ever. That said, if I had tried opiates back then maybe my life would have taken a much different and hurtful course.
Rather nihilistic, but you do you. 👍
Seems to be a problem that will solve itself, eventually.
****** THAT statement is what liberals just don’t understand-the “rank and file” liberals, that is. Then we have the ones in political office- the Marxists-they DO understand- for them it’s all about power and control and money.
We still need to find the traffickers and deal with them. Very, very harshly.
“I had a challenging childhood and played in a band from a very young age. I took lots of different drugs (hallucinogens, barbiturates, speed, hash, weed, etc.) well before starting high school. I haven’t done anything since freshman year of high school, ever. That said, if I had tried opiates back then maybe my life would have taken a much different and hurtful course.”
I did too. I was also a musician and grew up in the era of sex, drugs, and Rock and Roll. I was rebelling and “getting away with” using Tobacco and Weed at 12 years old. From that point on, and because of the culture at the time, I was a full blown drug addict until I was 23. I did anything and everything I could get my hands on. Weed, Hash, Oil, Opium, Slammed Heroin and Speed, Cocaine, Downers, LSD, Mescaline, Peyote, Ayahuasca, Shrooms... And most times a combination of everything I could get that was handy at the time topped off with alcohol. Being illegal had absolutely no bearing on availability, it was STILL available EVERYWHERE.
And if I had killed myself I would have deserved every bit of it because I had absolutely no one to blame but myself period. I absolutely knew better before I was 12...
“Seems to be a problem that will solve itself, eventually.”
Yes it will. Especially if it was unchecked. Unchecked it will happen much much sooner.
I am speaking from personal experience. I have been there. And if I had killed myself it would have been all on me. I had absolutely no one else to blame but myself because I already knew better at a very young age.
For about 5 years back in the 70s I did some pot and a little hash, whenever someone had it. Finally, I had had enough, I didn’t like what it was doing to me, and quit. One of the GOOD decisions I made in my life.
Now I don’t even drink alcohol.
Here it is 50 years later, and my brother STILL smokes the stuff. Not only that, but he grows a small amount for himself. I just shake my head whenever we get together. I don’t know how he still functions, but he does.
Everybody’s different I guess. To my knowledge, he’s never done any hard stuff.
Best of health to you!
“Drug users are like free climbers who do sheer cliffs.
There’s always going to be a group who will do it and you can’t stop them.
Over time, some of them die and the survivors quit doing it.
Just super relax property defense laws so people can protect their castle.”
Best post in this thread...
Always remember to never forget: I was also in ‘The Game’ as a hardcore addict myself.
Your experience got you a little nihilistic about the topic. My experience had a different effect: I have immense compassion for the addict who still suffers. I suppose it is a byproduct of my strong association with Narcotics Anonymous.
No big whoop either way we travelled. I still love you. (But not in a gay way, so put that damned thing back in your pants. 😂)
I understand, and I agree that being legal or not doesn't necessarily affect acquisition of drugs (we accessed barbiturates because a friend stole them from a pharmacy), but I think it's really important to do a better job with young kids - and not just because of drugs. I don't know your situation, but I didn't realize how many issues I had as a kid, until I did - and that takes time.
“Wow, you really have been through the crucible. Glad you’re still here.”
I am indeed fortunate. Had it not been for me finally meeting a special strong lady who I wanted to settle down with I would not be here. She pulled me out of the gutter and set me straight. One in a million. And I was ready, I full well knew I was not going to live much longer if I continued down that path. :)
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