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Heroin Overdoses Killed More People in US Than HIV, Melanoma or Firearms in 2015
ABC News ^ | January 19, 2017 | Gillian Moheny

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: drugepidemic; drugs; heroin; opioids
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
America has so much safety net our junkies can get 'real' heroin

For a real shudder, videos of the addicts in Russia/Ukraine show them cooking and shooting up a synthetic version they call "Krokodil", made all from over the counter chemicals.

21 posted on 01/19/2017 7:51:23 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (Chipping away at Leftism)
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To: Timpanagos1

Disagree. There are plenty of people who were not ‘junkies’ who have died from opioid prescriptions that were in legitimate pain, but took too many. Rush was in it pretty deep when he finally got busted and it all began with a back injury.

And as the price of heroin drops it will overtake the prescription opioid death rate. Plus, now that they have added the fentanyl to the heroin, it has become very dangerous.


22 posted on 01/19/2017 7:52:53 PM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

This just reinforces Obama’s decision to pardon so many drug pushers and cartel members so that the Heroin problem can go on unabated. /sarc


23 posted on 01/19/2017 7:54:37 PM PST by Rockitz (This is NOT rocket science - Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

1. Years ago, heroin addiction and fatal overdoses were largely confined to members of the lower class. Now, it’s spreading like wildfire among the young, upper-middle class.

2. Many fatal heroin overdoses occur among first-time or casual users who underestimate the purity of the junk in circulation now.


24 posted on 01/19/2017 7:54:48 PM PST by riverdawg
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To: arthurus
Heroin deaths are like suicide, self administered and voluntary.I feel bad that a kid takes that first bite but after the third one he is no longer a functioning human being. and no longer has my sympathy. Same for meth or crack.

The truth of what you say is hard to face, but I wish my niece could/would read your words.

She got into meth ffs, it's horrible.

She knows I love her but don't even think of asking uncle for a loan, not even $5 right now while she's like this.

25 posted on 01/19/2017 8:01:18 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (Chipping away at Leftism)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

I just heroin O.D.’d. just watched latest in the Underworld series. But that girl is HOT!


26 posted on 01/19/2017 8:01:29 PM PST by DariusBane (Liberty and Risk. Flip sides of the same coin. So how much risk will YOU accept? Vive Deo et Vives)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

“Most herion in this country was made from mexican poppies”

Really? I thought it was Afghanistan.


27 posted on 01/19/2017 8:02:59 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

“Disagree. There are plenty of people who were not ‘junkies’ who have died from opioid prescriptions that were in legitimate pain, but took too many.”

I am no stranger to the issue.

I have lost a sibling to drugs and have had two very good friends die because they “took too many.”

There was another good friend and band mate that I had to essentially kidnap and hold hostage for him to get clean.

There is little or no difference in the behavior and mindset of the heroin addict and the pharmaceutical addict.


28 posted on 01/19/2017 8:06:57 PM PST by Timpanagos1
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To: riverdawg

According to the latest toxicology reports, fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is being added to heroin. Lots of first time experimenters don’t survive.

It’s a problem in all classes of society, across the board. Cities, small towns, rural areas- everywhere. Trump always mentions New Hampshire’s opioid problem, that came as a surprise to many outside the state.


29 posted on 01/19/2017 8:08:42 PM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Note how they call them firearms, not guns.

Liberals love their dope and don’t wasn’t to ban it. The opposite in fact.

So call guns the softer-sounding firearms.


30 posted on 01/19/2017 8:14:34 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

One of the major reasons to secure the border, most heroin comes over from Mexico and Trump has mentioned this, just not in the most pronounced way.

And people are mixing it with “fentanyl” (spelling) and that’s why it has turned so deadly.

Yes, they are being stupid at a usually young age; but we shouldn’t have heroin flowing in the way it is to begin with.


31 posted on 01/19/2017 8:16:50 PM PST by BeadCounter
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To: MichaelCorleone

“Really? I thought it was Afghanistan.”

Mexico took over the largest share.

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-heroin-coming-from-mexican-cartels

Or research it for oneself, it’s not like in the old days.

Another reason to secure the border shut.


32 posted on 01/19/2017 8:19:18 PM PST by BeadCounter
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

How many died from alcohol related ?


33 posted on 01/19/2017 8:22:25 PM PST by uncbob
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

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.

Deaths by abortions of innocent children far, far exceed the deaths of these morons, but ya’ don’t hear anyone lamenting them. Goodbye heroin users, tah tah!


34 posted on 01/19/2017 8:24:13 PM PST by laweeks
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

35 posted on 01/19/2017 8:37:32 PM PST by Vic S
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

According to report in 2015, 13000 died. In 2014, 28000 died. Half as many died a year later so why does that make it an epidemic?


36 posted on 01/19/2017 8:40:40 PM PST by bravo whiskey (Never bring a liberal gun law to a gun fight.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Border control, and emphasis on heroin manufacturing and distribution are going to be the most effective means of making heroin more expensive and less available thus reducing heroin usage and deaths.
Border control will also reduce the rise in infectious disease such as TB, leprosy etc.
Once we get good border security and a review of DEA corruption and collusion with drug cartels, we will make some progress.
Unfortunately demonizing patients so that they resort to heroin for pain control and withdrawal symptoms is not the answer.


37 posted on 01/19/2017 8:43:30 PM PST by grumpygresh (We don't have Democrats and Republicans, we have the Faustian uni-party)
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To: DariusBane

Ooh! Is it out on video or in theaters? New girl or still the same Selene?


38 posted on 01/19/2017 9:28:00 PM PST by Tailback
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

but DRUGS ARE GOOD!....don’t take away the drugs....


39 posted on 01/19/2017 9:30:02 PM PST by cherry
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Yes, I know. Sure seems like something is up.


40 posted on 01/19/2017 10:34:47 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Obama, Clinton, McStain, and Graham, with people like this, who needs enemies?)
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