Opioid overdose is continually taking its toll in the United States as CDC mentioned that it is taking more lives compared to guns. It was mentioned that opioid overdose-related deaths increased by 72 percent, and it is continually increasing.
KRQE released a report where it was stated that opioid-related deaths made a significant increase over the past 5 years. The death toll became visibly rampant as it was mentioned that some states experienced opioid-related deaths by more than 200 percent.
Dr. Tom Frieden, the head of the CDC mentioned that most Americans experience opioid overdose may it be through accidental prescription consumption or through abusing the drug, which leads to over dose and eventually death.
"Too many Americans are feeling the devastation of the opioid crisis either from misuse of prescription opioids or use of illicit opioids," Frieden, stated as mentioned in KRQE. "Urgent action is needed to help health care providers treat pain safely and treat opioid use disorder effectively, support law enforcement strategies to reduce the availability of illicit opiates, and support states to develop and implement programs that can save lives."
In 2015 alone the news website mentioned that 52,000 people died due to a drug overdose, where it was mentioned that two-thirds of the drug-related deaths are related to prescription drug and opioid overdose. It was then added that synthetic opioid, including fentanyl, took its toll and increased by 73 percent to 9, 580. Oxycontin and Vicodin then killed more than 17,000 individuals as it increased by 4 percent.
Aside from opioid-related death, United States is also plagued with synthetic marijuana-related death. "Spice," is said to have caused almost 3 dozen individuals due to its chemical called AMN-FUBINACA, which is a synthetic cannabinoid and is more potent compared to the natural TCH derived from marijuana according to NY Times.
