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Amputation rates are on the rise — especially among a surprising at-risk population (opioid-related)
NY Post ^ | 5/21/26 | McKenzie Beard

Posted on 05/22/2026 3:58:18 AM PDT by Libloather

An alarming shift is emerging in US hospitals.

A new study has revealed a disturbing rise in life-altering amputations nationwide, with one unexpected at-risk population seeing a particularly sharp increase in recent years.

Even more concerning, those cases tended to be more severe, often involving loss of an arm or the upper leg above the knee.

In the study, researchers from Mass General Brigham and University of California, San Francisco analyzed US hospitalizations between 2016 and 2022 to see how amputation rates have changed over time.

Over the six-year period, amputations rose overall, by 35.3% (from 58.9 to 79.7 per 10,000 people). But among patients whose cases involved opioids, the increase was dramatically steeper, climbing by 66% (from 55.6 to 92.3 per 10,000).

The sharpest spikes in opioid-related amputations were seen in parts of the Northeast and West.

Opioids — a class of drugs used to treat severe pain — include prescription medications like fentanyl and oxycodone, as well as illicit drugs such as heroin.

While highly effective for pain management, they also carry a high risk of dependence and addiction.

Widespread prescribing in the 1990s helped fuel a major public health crisis in the US, later driven further by a shift from prescription pills to cheaper street drugs in the 2010s.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS: amputation; medical; opioids
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1 posted on 05/22/2026 3:58:18 AM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

From the article:
Diabetes-related complications still account for about 80% of lower limb amputations nationwide.


2 posted on 05/22/2026 4:14:22 AM PDT by sockmonkey (Conservative. Not a Neocon. )
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To: Libloather

"Prosthetics."

3 posted on 05/22/2026 4:35:39 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: Libloather

Blue states.


4 posted on 05/22/2026 4:45:39 AM PDT by Mashood
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To: Libloather

I think though they are talking severe drug abuse causing the problems, mostly injedtions of street drugs causing tissue damage and infections. Folks taking opioids for severe pain p4obably arent in the category provided they take meds as directed.


5 posted on 05/22/2026 6:47:56 AM PDT by Bob434 (Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana)
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To: Libloather

I’m wondering if these amputations are from tranq:

“Tranq, also known as xylazine, is not approved for human use. It has become a widespread adulterant in the illicit drug supply, most commonly mixed with fentanyl (often called “tranq dope”), though it is also found in heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills.

Skin Wounds: A distinct and severe side effect is the development of necrotic skin ulcers and abscesses that are difficult to treat and can lead to amputation, even in users who do not inject the drug.”

Seen photos of this in the homeless population - who are either so drug-addled or mentally ill that they don’t even notice that their limbs are about to fall off.

And yes, Karen Bass wants to provide homeless with taxpayer-funded teeth for homeless drug users - so they can continue to use drugs and still have teeth.


6 posted on 05/22/2026 7:22:41 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Libloather
a disturbing rise in life-altering amputations nationwide

Like addadicktome operations?

7 posted on 05/22/2026 7:58:48 AM PDT by libertylover (The HBM (Has Been Media) is almost all AGENDA-DRIVEN and HATE-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: Bon of Babble

my first thought was xylazine as well ... and that’s very likely the real cause of increase in amputations ...


8 posted on 05/22/2026 9:14:12 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: Libloather

If this was unexpected, we need better experts.

When tranq first became popular they all new this was a side effect.


9 posted on 05/22/2026 9:50:26 AM PDT by dgbrown
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To: libertylover

That was my thought.


10 posted on 05/22/2026 10:15:46 AM PDT by LS ("Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually." Jimi Hendrix)
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