There were 42,249 deaths due to opioid overdoses in 2016, compared to a projected 41,070 deaths from breast cancer in 2017 (42,640 in 2015). U.S. life expectancy has dropped for the second year in a row:
The increase largely stemmed from the continued escalation of deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, which jumped to 19,410 in 2016 from 9,580 in 2015 and 5,540 in 2014, according to a TFAH analysis of the report.
[...] The surge in overdose deaths has depressed recent gains in U.S. life expectancy, which fell to an average age of 78.6, down 0.1 year from 2015 and marking the first two-year drop since 1962-1963.
In a separate report, the CDC linked the recent steep increases in hepatitis C infections to increases in opioid injection.
Researchers used a national database that tracks substance abuse admissions to treatment facilities in all 50 U.S. states. They found a 133 percent increase in acute hepatitis C cases that coincided with a 93 percent increase in admissions for opioid injection between 2004 to 2014.
From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday December 23 2017, @02:19AM (5 children)
All of these stories are from the past month:
Bill could make texting while driving primary offense in Florida [tallahassee.com]
Safe Driving Campaign Raises Awareness About Texting While Driving [houstonpublicmedia.org]
You’re probably doing this at stoplights. Now this SC Rep wants to fine you $100 for it [islandpacket.com]
Smithfield police prepare to crack down on texting drivers [valleybreeze.com]
DMV targets distracted driving with a contest and $1,000 prize [wydaily.com]
Poll: Americans say marijuana is safer than texting while driving [sfgate.com]
MP Richard Benyon banned for texting while driving [bbc.com]
NSW Government launches safety campaign to tackle texting while driving [abc.net.au]
The opioid crisis has been news for well over a year [soylentnews.org] now.
Do you dispute the CDC's claim that tens of thousands of people are dying from opioid overdoses? Are events like this [usatoday.com] not happening?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 23 2017, @07:09AM (3 children)
They die by choice, knowing and willingly.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday December 23 2017, @07:47AM (2 children)
Distracted drivers kill other drivers. And I already said elsewhere that all drugs should be legalized.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 23 2017, @04:31PM (1 child)
If you want to buy those fools some drugs, then you just go right ahead, but I wouldn't waste the time of day on those dirty cunts.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday December 25 2017, @06:04AM
Rather I was expecting those fools to buy their own drugs, just like they do for tobacco or alcohol.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday December 23 2017, @11:11PM
He doesn't give a shit, as evidenced by his reply to you.
Most people don't give a shit, and will never give a shit until it happens to them or someone close to them. It's sad, but it seems most people are just plain selfish, shortsighted, unimaginative, and frankly stupid. It's this kind of malignant stupidity that takes the edge off Hanlon's Razor, IMO.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...