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NewDeal_Dem

(1,049 posts)

18. Prescription Drugs Are More Deadly Than Street Drugs

Sun Dec 28, 2014, 07:49 PM

Dec 2014

What do Heath Ledger, Sage Stallone, Anna Nicole Smith, Keith Moon, Judy Garland, Dorothy Dandridge, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson all have in common? They were high-profile celebrities who died from prescription drug overdoses.

When someone rich and famous dies from a prescription drug overdose, it brings renewed attention to a growing epidemic.

Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. At least 100 people die from drug overdoses every day in the U.S. More than 36,000 people die from drug overdoses annually and most of these deaths are caused by prescription drugs (1).

The unprecedented rise in overdose deaths in the U.S. parallels a 300 percent increase since 1999 in the sale of powerful painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin. These drugs were involved in 14,800 overdose deaths in 2008, more than cocaine and heroin combined (2).

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201404/prescription-drugs-are-more-deadly-street-drugs

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End the war on heroin and cocaine NOW! [View all] FrodosPet Dec 2014 OP

We should treat heroin and cocaine addiction as public health issues. Maedhros Dec 2014 #1

yeah, if someone has no family or friends, fuck em. that's the ticket. NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #2

Right, like we care deeply about the poor now. bemildred Dec 2014 #6

That was one irony of the Richard Paey story. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #9

Yeah. Mindless grasping for every shred of control over other peoples lives. bemildred Dec 2014 #10

Just noticed your sig. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #11

Yah. bemildred Dec 2014 #13

And what better way to say "society loves you" than a 10 year mandatory minimum drug sentence? Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #8

and who said anything like that? fyi, where i live there are lots of drugs, to the detriment of NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #14

Which is one reason we should treat addiction as a public health issue, not a law enforcement one. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #15

here's what the OP said: NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #16

And that bit of obvious snark came after "end the war on heroin and cocaine NOW" Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #19

It gives them felony convictions so they can't vote JonLP24 Dec 2014 #43

Cant tell if serious, sarcasm, of trolling??? ncjustice80 Dec 2014 #3

The latter Strelnikov_ Dec 2014 #53

If it were legal, there would probably be fewer overdoses Mariana Dec 2014 #4

Prescription Drugs Are More Deadly Than Street Drugs NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #18

"growing epidemic" means "more money for the DEA to harass doctors into being terrified Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #20

do you actually read the posts? that was posted in response to the other poster's NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #23

I'm saying that our current approach doesnt work. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #24

I have no moral panic, nor do I think we need tighter controls over people's behavior (except the NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #25

It's a discussion board, Jack. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #26

You aren't discussing, you're attacking, and reading your own agenda into everything I write. NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #27

Mmm hmmm. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #28

I don't the feature. I'll just ignore you from here on in. NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #29

Fair 'nuff. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #30

How many of the the vicodin deaths come from acetominophen toxicity, vs. the opioid component? Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #38

+1. nt bemildred Dec 2014 #50

We should treat addiction as a public health issue, not a law enforcement one. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #5

Law enforcement is a crappy way to deal with social issues and that's why we love it. nt bemildred Dec 2014 #7

"California took a responsible step towards sanity this last November..." nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #32

and quit pushing tobacco around! reddread Dec 2014 #12

Just stop throwing drug users in jail. That's all I would ask for, really. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #33

yes, unless they are stealing to support it reddread Dec 2014 #39

I did object to the Social Darwinist aspect downthread, but otherwise I'm fairly indifferent nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #41

They should address the stealing when people steal things JonLP24 Dec 2014 #44

Advocating death? Hutzpa Dec 2014 #17

I'm frustrated by the whole issue FrodosPet Dec 2014 #40

Well Wachovia laundered $378 billion of Cartel and was hit with $70 million fine JonLP24 Dec 2014 #45

Really? Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #49

Help those who need it joshbrandwood Dec 2014 #21

Thats kind of where Im at. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #31

Heroin is a tough one JonLP24 Dec 2014 #22

While I support the de-criminalization of all drugs ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #34

Agree with everything you just posted. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #36

I dont think this OP is supposed to be for real. Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #37

if I wanted to tar liberal positions on addictive recovery and opposition to the drug war reddread Dec 2014 #54

The idea it would save money and why it would be strange doesn't compute JonLP24 Dec 2014 #46

Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #47

Throwing money at the problem which has failed to do anything about the problem JonLP24 Dec 2014 #51

Nice dodge ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #52

I was all ready to rec this OP till I got to your last paragraph. n/t nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #35

That's pretty cold. WhiteAndNerdy Dec 2014 #42

Dealers should be prosecuted. But simple possession should not be "criminal". phleshdef Dec 2014 #48

seeing how well the WoD on drugs has worked so far... KG Dec 2014 #55