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Why are more Americans than ever dying from drug overdoses?
theguardian.com ^ | 11/29/2018 | Niko Kommenda, Erin Durkin and Lydia Smears

Posted on 12/01/2018 6:48:50 AM PST by rktman

The growing drugs crisis sweeping across the US is deadlier than gun violence, car crashes or Aids, none of which have killed as many Americans in a single year as overdoses did in 2017.

Newly confirmed figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show the increasing scale of the crisis.

The drugs epidemic is not confined to a small number of states nor to lower-income areas, but instead has spread across the whole country. While there are concentrations around the midwest, and regional differences in the type of substance, overdose deaths are happening everywhere.

The US medical sector ranks second in the world for opioid use

Opioid consumption in the medical retail sector per year and per capita, in morphine equivalents

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: odd; wod; worsethanguns
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To: blueunicorn6

“Why does an extremely liberal British newspaper care about drug deaths in the US?”

So Brits can feel superior to us `bloody Yanks’ even as UK steadily sinks into a Muslim-dominated s***hole state of their own making.

Same with gun control; UK Guardian scolds us for our `cowboy gun culture’ and their comments are filled with condescension and hatred. The most laughable being “I worked in America for twenty years but I had to leave because of all the d@mned guns! They’re everywhere!”


41 posted on 12/01/2018 8:31:36 AM PST by elcid1970 (My gun safe is saying, "Room for one more, honey!")
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To: rktman

Your taxpayer money is causing it. Addicts get diagnosed with personality disorders. They receive ‘crazy’ checks in the mail. Sometimes they use the local liquor store as their mailing address. The taxpayer money funds the drug habits of non-working druggies, until they overdose.


42 posted on 12/01/2018 8:34:31 AM PST by abclily
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To: TigerClaws

“Opioid crisis is killing off whites. Hundreds of millions of pills sent to one county in West Virginia. It’s white genocide. That’s why we aren’t stopping it. Leftists are killing off Trump voters.”

Weak people make poor decisions.

It has nothing to do with their race or voting habits, it’s just that they do not have the mental or emotional capacity to not become a Junkies.


43 posted on 12/01/2018 8:41:55 AM PST by Blue House Sue
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To: exDemMom

If that is the case, why are the opioid usage rates and overdose rates far lower in states where pot is legal, than states where pot is illegal?


44 posted on 12/01/2018 8:46:05 AM PST by Blue House Sue
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To: rktman

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmwV_ipe74

By Sara Carter.

Excellent.


45 posted on 12/01/2018 8:46:42 AM PST by Badboo (Why it is important)
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To: Blue House Sue

BINGO!


46 posted on 12/01/2018 9:05:37 AM PST by Farmer Dean (168 grains of instant conflict resolution)
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To: hardspunned

Nope. It’s because doctors are grossly over prescribing opioids. Most of the ODs are on legally acquired drugs.


47 posted on 12/01/2018 9:07:35 AM PST by discostu (Every gun makes its own tune.)
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To: wally_bert

I concur. Bad behavior should entail serious risk.


48 posted on 12/01/2018 9:09:17 AM PST by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest)
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To: Blue House Sue

I’m with you Sue. I don’t like all this drug abuse called an “epidemic.” This is VOLUNTARY behavior and has a serious moral component.

Do I feel for a guy who takes opioids after surgery and spirals somewhat helplessly into an addiction? Yes. But he still has to admit the problem and overcome it. Unless he is being held down and force fed, it is his responsibility.

Genocide is when groups of evil powerful violent people forcibly destroy a group they don’t like. Drug addiction doesn’t come near the threshold.


49 posted on 12/01/2018 9:10:23 AM PST by Persevero (Democrats haven't been this nutty since we freed their slaves.)
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To: Blue House Sue
If that is the case, why are the opioid usage rates and overdose rates far lower in states where pot is legal, than states where pot is illegal?

That is not what any data says. I have not looked at the original studies to see the biases, assumptions, and so forth, but according to this article from NPR, the only difference is that the rate of opioid addiction is growing more slowly in states that have legalized marijuana than in other states. And the meaning of that is barely discussed at all in the article. What that suggests to me is not that drug addiction is decreasing, but that people are choosing marijuana as their initial gateway to drug addiction, rather than opioids. That observation is only related to opioid addiction, so what do overall drug addiction rates look like? What is the distribution of drug addiction with respect to the drug of choice? Could there actually be more drug addiction in the states that have legalized pot, given the increased availability and the decades-long campaign by marijuana proponents to convince people that marijuana is harmless? And so on.

The drug of choice in addiction is almost irrelevant. The disease is addiction; the drug is a symptom.

50 posted on 12/01/2018 9:10:37 AM PST by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: blueunicorn6
Why does an extremely liberal British newspaper care about drug deaths in the US?

Questions like this make FReepers look like idiots who have completely failed to grasp even the simplest understanding of today's modern global economy.

I mean, seriously. When you see a Mercedes on the road, do you exclaim in surprise "LOOK! A GERMAN CAR! IN AMERICA!"

51 posted on 12/01/2018 9:14:59 AM PST by Drew68 (Twitter @TheRealDrew68 // Click my profile page for great Russian pop music videos.)
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To: rktman

“Why are more Americans than ever dying from drug overdoses?”

I dunno. Could it have anything to do with wretched parenting skills by Mom and Dad?


52 posted on 12/01/2018 9:15:15 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (Great things never come from comfort zones.)
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To: Persevero
But, but, but......that and boozing and being overweight and stuff are diseases right! N🚬💊💉🍻🍾🍴🎂🍰
53 posted on 12/01/2018 9:21:27 AM PST by rktman ( #My2nd! Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH)
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To: servantboy777

Chronic pain is an awful, awful thing to endure.


54 posted on 12/01/2018 9:21:58 AM PST by Nuc 1.1 (Nuc 1 Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: rktman

Exactly rktman. As someone who tends to the curvy side I blame no one but myself. It’s not an epidemic or genocide or a disease and I am not a victim. I am an adult and I am responsible for what I ingest.


55 posted on 12/01/2018 9:25:14 AM PST by Persevero (Democrats haven't been this nutty since we freed their slaves.)
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To: Nuc 1.1

Yup. Two back surgeries that didn’t do what I hoped. No more though.


56 posted on 12/01/2018 9:28:28 AM PST by rktman ( #My2nd! Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH)
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To: rktman

Good luck. Prayers up.


57 posted on 12/01/2018 9:43:17 AM PST by Nuc 1.1 (Nuc 1 Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: Nuc 1.1

Thanks. Already done so prayers are always good.


58 posted on 12/01/2018 9:52:14 AM PST by rktman ( #My2nd! Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH)
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To: Drew68

Hi Drew.

Thank you for your erudite answer.

Mommy didn’t buy you those Spongebob slippers, did she?

Glad to see you’re up off the floor.

Maybe she’ll get you that Strawberry Shortcake doll you’ve been asking for.


59 posted on 12/01/2018 10:09:05 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Persevero

I fight the battle of the bulges myself.

Diet changes have helped and I am doing better than a few years ago.


60 posted on 12/01/2018 10:37:17 AM PST by wally_bert (I will competently make sure the thing is done incompetently.)
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