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Americans more likely to die from opioid overdose than in a car accident
CBS News ^ | January 14th, 2019 | By Ashley Welch

Posted on 01/14/2019 3:44:14 PM PST by Mariner

For the first time on record, Americans are more likely to die of an accidental opioid overdose than in a motor vehicle crash, according to a new report from the National Safety Council.

The group calculates that the chance of dying from an opioid overdose has increased to 1 in 96, surpassing the odds of dying in a car accident, at 1 in 103. It's also greater than the odds of dying from a fall, a gun assault, pedestrian accident, or drowning.

"The opioid crisis remains an abstract issue for many people; they still believe it will not happen to them, or it isn't a risk facing them or their family," Maureen Vogel, spokeswoman for the National Safety Council, told CBS News. "These numbers show the gravity of the problem our country is facing. We need to reprioritize and regroup, because all these deaths are preventable."

Each day more than 130 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report finding the number of drug overdose deaths among middle-aged women skyrocketed between 1999 and 2017, with opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, being the main driver. Deaths from prescription and illicit opioids in children and teens also tripled over the same time period, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.

Data reported last year showed drug overdoses killed more Americans in 2016 than the Vietnam War, with three-quarters of those deaths caused by opioids.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: wod
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To: Mariner

Slight difference between car crash and drug OD is that taking drugs is something that people choose to do of their own free will. Crashes are the results of unintentional bad judgement or rarely mechanical failures. No one held a gun to the heads of junkies and forced them to do drugs. If they OD it’s because they decided to see how high they could get. If they die it’s 100% on them.


21 posted on 01/14/2019 4:34:02 PM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: Mariner
drug overdoses killed more Americans in 2016 than the Vietnam War, with three-quarters of those deaths caused by opioids.

And zero by marijuana, for those keeping score.

22 posted on 01/14/2019 5:01:07 PM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: Mariner

If the wall will save one life Democrats have to build it.


23 posted on 01/14/2019 5:11:17 PM PST by Retvet (Retvet)
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To: metmom; TexasGator

“Same here, as my chances of dying of an opioid overdose are non-existent, as with anyone who doesn’t take them.”

It is not always a choice to start opiates. They are often the only way to stop debilitating and excruciating pain. I’ve also seen them given out by docs for things like wisdom teeth.

For people who are in constant extreme pain or addicted, overdosing is very easy.


24 posted on 01/14/2019 5:17:59 PM PST by varyouga
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To: Mariner

Well, poop!! Been nice knowing you all, but I guess being a cronic pain pt for nearly 20 yrs from screwing my back up busting my ass in the Navy means I’m gonna’ die. Guess I’ll go make out my will, take me bedtime oxycodone & expire. Will someone please post the “ Geez, not this Shit again” meme for me.


25 posted on 01/14/2019 5:26:04 PM PST by docman57 (Retired but still on Duty)
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To: docman57
... or did you mean after you expire?
26 posted on 01/14/2019 5:47:39 PM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: varyouga
For people who are in constant extreme pain or addicted, overdosing is very easy.

It is also easy to steer into the oncoming lane of traffic. I can't even tell you how many ODs I went to during my career. Somehow all of the ODs I went to were druggies and not people suffering from chronic pain. This problem is being mischaracterized by the media.

27 posted on 01/14/2019 6:00:03 PM PST by fireman15
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To: fireman15

Bingo. Doctors don’t prescribe fentanyl and heroin for home use. Some start using the drugs through prescriptions, but you don’t get fentanyl at the drug store and the drug store doesn’t give you a bag of sh!t and spoon.


28 posted on 01/14/2019 6:44:44 PM PST by RetiredTexasVet (Start using cash and checks or the elite class and bankers will make "cashless" the norm.)
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To: tomkat
Put your head in the sand if you choose, but first read this book.

Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic

29 posted on 01/14/2019 7:13:53 PM PST by randita (PLEASE STOP ALL THE WORTHLESS VANITIES!)
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To: RetiredTexasVet
and the drug store doesn’t give you a bag of sh!t and spoon.

Nearly every overdose that I can remember going to was some idiot using illegal drugs from an unreliable source, of unknown potency. I don't know what percentage of people who OD when using prescribed opiates from legitimate sources, but I would think that it is a tiny percentage of the total.

I also do not understand what the allure is in the first place. When I was in the hospital for a ruptured appendix... I had a button I could push to spritz more opiate based pain killers into my bloodstream. It didn't give me any thrill, high, or bliss at all.

30 posted on 01/14/2019 7:34:43 PM PST by fireman15
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To: Mariner; TheStickman; dainbramaged; beaversmom; NobleFree

Thank You for posting Mariner.


31 posted on 01/14/2019 7:51:47 PM PST by KC_Lion (If you want on First Lady Melania's, Ivanka Trump's or Sarah Palin's Ping Lists, just let me know.)
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To: NobleFree

You are awesome! Bwahahaha! Now I can sleep or expire peacefully.


32 posted on 01/14/2019 9:20:26 PM PST by docman57 (Retired but still on Duty)
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To: Mariner
hate to tell you this but a majority of opioid users also use weed.....

but hey continue to encourage Americans to drug themselves since life is soooo hard....

"What is this I hear of sorrow and weariness,

Anger, discontent and drooping hopes? Degenerate sons and daughters,

Life is too strong for you — It takes life to love Life.

ELMasters

33 posted on 01/14/2019 9:26:24 PM PST by cherry (official troll)
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To: cherry

“hate to tell you this but a majority of opioid users also use weed.....”

You can’t substantiate that assertion because it’s false.


34 posted on 01/14/2019 9:28:06 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner
Why? All one has to do not to die from an opioid overdose is not take opiates.
35 posted on 01/14/2019 9:30:16 PM PST by sport
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To: tomkat

I agree.


36 posted on 01/14/2019 9:31:14 PM PST by sport
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To: KC_Lion

Nice thing about using cannabis for pain:it will not harm you!!!


37 posted on 01/15/2019 1:24:40 AM PST by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
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To: tomkat

Ummm - did you actually read it or are you doing the same thing the Dems do - “If Trump says it, it’s a lie.....If it’s on CBS, it isn’t true..even if it is...”


38 posted on 01/15/2019 3:32:54 AM PST by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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