Posted on 01/19/2017 7:07:46 PM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
The opioid epidemic continues to worsen in the U.S., with more people dying from heroin overdoses than firearm homicides, melanoma or HIV-related causes, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2015 at least 13,150 people died of heroin overdose, according to the CDC Wonder database, which houses public health data. .. firearm homicides .... was 12,974, .... HIV was 6,465 deaths. ... melanoma ... 9,940 deaths in 2015.
The staggering number of deaths related to heroin use is just a part of the toll of the opioid epidemic. In 2014, 28,000 people died from opioid overdoses -- which includes heroin overdoses -- and half were due to prescription drugs.
Dr. Caleb Alexander, co-director for the Johns Hopkins Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness, said the heroin overdose numbers ... were "alarming" and ... "Both heroin and illicit fentanyl are really complicating efforts to try and reduce opioid-related injuries and deaths," ... Fentanyl is an opioid often made and sold illicitly that can be as much as 100 times more potent than heroin.
... addicts have multiple avenues to find and take opioids from prescription drugs to illicit substances like heroin or fentanyl or even veterinary opioids like carfentanil, which was designed to sedate elephants. "There are a lot of different sources of this products," Alexander said. "The underlying things that fuel this is the vast number of Americans that is physically dependent or addicted to the product."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Yes...
The 2015 figure is just heroin related cases. The 2014 figure is all opioids, including prescription drugs. Heroin is about 1/2 of the OD’s.
An unethical pill farm? Yeah.
Staff writing scrips without the doctor's permission? Yeah.
Scrip drugs brought over the open border? Yeah
Heroin is killing more people than deaths from auto accidents.
A fair amount is Afgahn. Part of the gang war is the Mexican producers vs the Afgahn importers.
Like Obama, your comment displays a complete lack of empathy and caring for your fellow man. Well your current POS pres. just pardoned 330 life-term felon drug dealers. Many will resume dealing and there will be even more, mainly young people, dying from drugs. Your attitude stinks and is not shared by the cops and courts that prosecute these creatures and the families they have witnessed destroyed by opiates-H. Nor the veterans groups that see drug overdoses daily. Try growing a heart in your big old empty chest.
“’I’m not the slightest bit concerned about heroin overdoses. If they choose to use heroin, then the hell with them. For every one of their deaths, it’s one less drug addict to worry about.” “Goodbye heroin users, tah tah!”
And if you voiced that same asinine opinion to President Trump, I’d bet he say, “Get out of hell out of here, you’re fired.” or something not acceptable to this forum.
Thank God this decent man and leader will confront the drug epidemic in America. He cares immensely and has campaigned on this very issue. Trump has lost friends and close friend’s family members due to drug overdoses and he describes meeting many more distraught affected families while campaigning. And he is not alone on this. Despite of your callous disregard for these lives, things will change and improve because the new administration actually does give a damn.
A lot of these overdoses aren't kids taking their first bite but rather adults who have become addicted to prescribed opiates that were then cut off. There's a reason heroin deaths are skyrocketing right now and it isn't all because of kids.
But it's much easier to jump on the sanctimonious bandwagon of "all drug addicts are scum that deserve to die" than to actually investigate the issue.
Here in Maryland overdoses have become a severe problem. I understand that the culprit is heroin mixed with fetenyl which is a very toxic combination.
Same girl, still hotter than doughnut grease. In a theater near you!
I have no empathy for these “accidental overdose” abusers. None at all. I feel very sad for their families, and that’s where it stops. There is no such thing as an “accidental overdoes” . . . you either stick the needle or swallow the drug or your DON’T! Sorry . . . no sympathy and we waste money and time wringing our hands over these jerks.
I think the rise of suicide by middle aged white women in the last 5+ years has a huge amount to do with the increase in opiod/benzo pill addiction. I take it women overwhelmingly use pills when they want to check out.
FReegards
In the last three months four of my past students have died of overdoses of Heroin, another very close call but when his so called friends dumped him off in someone front yard, the people living there got him medical attention quickly.
When heroin is outlawed, then only outlaws will have heroin.
Wait a minute - it IS illegal.
Once they are adults, well, they have chosen their path in life. You or I will not change it. Perhaps they will themselves but it will only be themselves unaided that can do it. We can be liberals and beat our breasts and wail and feel guilty for them but we cannot help them. I’ve got other projects that have some prognoses that are not so bleak. I will not bother an addict again.
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