Anyone believe that after already spending 51 BILLION/yr and over ONE TRILLION in the last 45 yrs.. that another 100 million is going to make any progress in a war that is as bad or worse than when it started in 1914 ? Notice they don’t label all overdose deaths as “accidental”.. how many suicides are BURIED in those numbers .. because of desperation or depression from unmanaged pain or denial of care.. Also notice that the graph only deals with the specific meds of Hydrocodone & Oxycodone.. can we presume that the difference is from Heroin use/abuse.. which is also on the rise equal or greater than legal medications ?
Over the past two decades deaths from drug overdose have been steadily rising and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States.
(TRNS) – President Obama’s 2016 proposed federal budget seeks $100 million in new investment to reduce the abuse of prescription opioids and heroin.
Over the past two decades deaths from drug overdose have been steadily rising and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Opioid and heroin overdose together take some 20,000 American lives each year.
The budget, released Monday, would increase funding for programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration and other agencies to fight prescription drug abuse. The Obama Administration also proposes increasing funding for states to expand their own prescription drug monitoring programs, and to support the increased use of naloxone, an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of opioid overdose, by first responders.
Last year, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin devoted the annual State of the State to addressing the issue of heroin abuse after watching addiction numbers rise in his state.
The number of prescriptions for opioid have escalated from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013. The CDC cites the increases in the number of prescriptions written and dispensed as reason for the increased abuse, along with greater social acceptability for using medications for different purposes and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies.
In 1991… the oldest “baby boomer” was in their mid – 40’s… and the youngest “baby boomer” was in their late 20’s.. in 2013 the youngest “baby boomer” was 49 and the oldest ‘baby boomer” was 66. Can’t get real good stats.. but the first knee replacement was done in 1968 and there are nearly 500,000 today in the USA. In 1990 there was 31 million 65+ …today there is abt 46 million… 65+ From 12% to 15% of the population.. http://www.census.gov/prod/1/pop/p23-190/p23-190.pdf
Prescription opioids are similar to, and act on the same brain systems affected by, heroin and morphine.
Filed under: General Problems
I wonder which is the bigger failure, the war on terror or the war on drugs?
And I know some are uncomfortable with welcoming all kinds of people into America — that’s been this country’s history, and being part Irish, my history also. It’s uncomfortable looking at photos that say “Irish Need Not Apply,” along with “Whites Only.”
And as a woman, America’s and my history shows the same discrimination against my gender. Thank goodness women got the right to vote, or who knows what this country would look like now (look to the Middle East, if you want a clue).
Just like it doesn’t work to put down and shame people who suffer from addiction, it doesn’t work to look down on those less fortunate than ourselves. This country has made the drug war a global war, including in Latin America, where our policies create violence wherever they go. I can easily put myself in the shoes of a Latina mother with no way to support herself except through the industries that support the drug war. And if I wanted something better for my children, if I was courageous and strong, I would leave that violent place for a place that welcomes — families.
Follow like Portugal did over 10 yrs ago,,,decriminalize it all, instead of throwing them in jail, offer rehab and treatment…the numbers have vastly decreased…read up on it. The results are pretty amazing. I agree with you. Unfortunately our current appeaser in chief is unable to utter the word terrorist, in his mind they don’t exist and his annoited Attorney General feel ILLEGAL ALIENS have a RiGHT to a job in this country….. SO WRONG. But I digress…..Govt’s answer to everything is to throw money at it and then wonder why it doesnt work. DUMB DUMB DUMB.
First of all, there is no epidemic. 16,000 overdoses is nothing compared to the population we have.
If fighting drug abuse is such a big deal to the federal government, then why don’t they use the 80 million plus they seized from Walgreens, CVS and the doctors they stole everything from? Why do the tax payers have fund this BS? Perhaps all citizens should suggest they fund this with seized money instead.
It’s so ridiculous honestly. They will NEVER stop the war no matter how much money they throw at it, we ALL know this.
Waste, waste and more waste while driving national debt so far out of reach, it will never be under control.
The US citizens need to make a stand. We all also know that Marijuana was their cash cow and that’s on the way out, so the DEA should be eliminated and put those officers in home land security to protect our boarders from terrorists and illegals. Possibly use the drug money already seized to pay down the national debt or create free rehab treatment for those addicts who want to use those instead of wasting the money on the war on drugs that’s never going end anyway.
JMO… How about all of you?
“can we presume that the difference is from Heroin use/abuse.. which is also on the rise equal or greater than legal medications ?”
The rise in heroin use/abuse may currently look equal to or higher than opioids, but this patient population is much smaller in size, I don’t know by how much. Regardless, neither qualifies as an “epidemic,” which we have proven over and over again.
“Over the past two decades deaths from drug overdose have been steadily rising and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States.”
I’m unsure about this term, “injury death.” I have no idea what that would include, like falls that cause “injury death.” If I was a fact checker, I don’t know how I would figure out if this statement is true or not.
And the drug war continues…
I say BULLSHIT on this!
Way past time to repeal the Harrison Narcotic Tax Act. Govt answer to everything just throw more money at it…..more TEA please