SOME 382,000 Americans have overdosed on opioids—a group of drugs that includes prescription painkillers, heroin and synthetics—since the year 2000. That is greater than the number of American combat deaths in the second world war and the Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Despite this epic toll, there are early signs that at least one battle may be ending.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide the best data for tracking the opioid epidemic. Its latest data, which cover the 12 months to the end of October 2017, show that opioids were responsible for some 46,041 deaths (see chart) in that period. While provisional and subject to revision, that number was at least not dissimilar to the previous month’s figure of 46,202.
Two trends emerge from the numbers. The first gives cause for cheer: deaths from heroin and prescription opioids are falling. Combined, the two drugs were responsible for 29,600 deaths in the 12 months to October 2017, 4% below their...Continue reading
Source: United States https://ift.tt/2LNNCR1
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