US overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year

This is just overdose deaths alone, now how many of those were actual suicides? Here is one place where if you know somebody needs assistance cause they are struggling try and talk to them about getting some help. My daughter lost a very close friend and her family is heartbroken they all feel like they should have known or should have been able to help in some way. Just ask those around you how they are doing? is everything ok?



NEW YORK (AP) — Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday.

That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to a 29% increase.

“This is a staggering loss of human life,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University public health researcher who tracks overdose trends.

The nation was already struggling with its worst overdose epidemic but clearly "COVID has greatly exacerbated the crisis,” he added.

Lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get, experts said.

a reply to: putnam6

The number of new addicts to various drugs would also be an equally disheartening number, if it were even calculable. These are the un-measured consequences when we allow private-interest, under the guide of good-will, to tyrannically run our country.

a reply to: putnam6

Hmmm.
I would bet that they also died of COVID.

a reply to: putnam6

IMO - Some were also counted as Covid-19 deaths by NCHS.

MANY Deaths in America were placed in two categories for statistic purposes.

What is NCHS?: www.cdc.gov...

I wonder if the increased supply has anything to do with the increased deaths ? 😎

a reply to: carewemust

www.reuters.com...

This is a hilarious fact check article which tries to debunk the fact that England's deaths were overcounted because they counted any death within 28 days of a positive test as a coronavirus death by saying:

"False. The UK government introduced changes to the way COVID-19 deaths were counted in August 2020. It introduced two cut-off periods of 28 and 60 days following a positive test to register coronavirus deaths, compared with the previous method of counting all deaths after a positive test as a coronavirus death. This change created two sets of data to help the government monitor short and longer term impacts of the virus. The change has nothing to do with the high death rates seen during the surge in cases in December 2020 and January 2021."

So it is false? Or.... I guess it IS false to say that criteria increased coronavirus deaths, it actually reduced them because prior to that they were counting any death of anyone with a positive test at any time as a coronavirus death. Seems like nobody knows who is dying from what nowadays.

originally posted by: cooperton
a reply to: putnam6

The number of new addicts to various drugs would also be an equally disheartening number, if it were even calculable. These are the un-measured consequences when we allow private interest, under the guide of good-will, to tyrannically run our country.

Well there are so many variables and sectors in this equation.

Alcoholism
Obesity
Drug Abuse
Financial Pressures

We can call it the great reset, but let's be honest how many times did we hit that reset/restart button and then your PC did the blue screen crash(pun intended).

The crazy part is this area we can treat we can make better.

Think of just some of those COVID funds went elsewhere, hell forget the funds just the energy around COIVD

a reply to: putnam6

I honestly think, and have thought for years, the fentynyl epidemic was intentionally done by China. It comes from Chinese pharmaceutical companies and gets shipped over on barges to gangsters who process and distribute it.

There's no way in hell the Chinese pharmaceutical industry isn't heavily regulated and monitored by the CCP and strangely enough, despite coming from China, despite the fairly awful living conditions in major cities in China, they seem to lack the same kind of fentynyl crisis that's existed in North America for the last 5 years or so.

And north American governments have been letting this occur. In Vancouver here for sure the police turn a blind eye to the massive amounts of drugs imported into Vancouver ports. They let the Hell's angels roam free selling whatever they want.

There's one of the bloodiest gangwars in years going on in Vancouver right now over fentynyl selling turf. More people have been shot and killed so far this year in Vancouver over this than there are shootings in a year normally.

Overdoses are just a small part of the damage that # causes. What it does to the people who consume its lives is even worse than heroin. It gets cut into other drugs, so your not safe from it even if you don't touch opiates. Hell the dosage level is so small, that someone opening a bag of it next to you on the bus puts you at risk. It's straight evil stuff.

originally posted by: dug88
a reply to: putnam6

I honestly think, and have thought for years, the fentynyl epidemic was intentionally done by China. It comes from Chinese pharmaceutical companies and gets shipped over on barges to gangsters who process and distribute it.

There's no way in hell the Chinese pharmaceutical industry isn't heavily regulated and monitored by the CCP and strangely enough, despite coming from China, despite the fairly awful living conditions in major cities in China, they seem to lack the same kind of fentynyl crisis that's existed in North America for the last 5 years or so.

And north American governments have been letting this occur. In Vancouver here for sure the police turn a blind eye to the massive amounts of drugs imported into Vancouver ports. They let the Hell's angels roam free selling whatever they want.

There's one of the bloodiest gangwars in years going on in Vancouver right now over fentynyl selling turf. More people have been shot and killed so far this year in Vancouver over this than there are shootings in a year normally.

Overdoses are just a small part of the damage that # causes. What it does to the people who consume its lives is even worse than heroin. It gets cut into other drugs, so your not safe from it even if you don't touch opiates. Hell the dosage level is so small, that someone opening a bag of it next to you on the bus puts you at risk. It's straight evil stuff.

Sounds like something out of the movies like "Enter the Dragon" but it is certainly true, just on the money made from this to how it weakens America you know it high on their agenda. Hell, it's one reason China won't do anything to disturb this status quo, like war, because they are enjoying the situation as it is.

thanks for this... the fact that ANY country would attribute a death count to ANYTHING besides the actual reason for death is really the only argument needed. this tells you everything you need to know. amazin mental gymnastics required to follow this logic and believe in it.a reply to: Chalcedony

a reply to: putnam6

Decriminalizing and regulating distribution of drugs is by far the best way to reduce overdose deaths...

Not sure if I am allowed to say that here...but it's the truth

originally posted by: putnam6
This is just overdose deaths alone, now how many of those were actual suicides? Here is one place where if you know somebody needs assistance cause they are struggling try and talk to them about getting some help. My daughter lost a very close friend and her family is heartbroken they all feel like they should have known or should have been able to help in some way. Just ask those around you how they are doing? is everything ok?

NEW YORK (AP) — Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday.

That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to a 29% increase.

“This is a staggering loss of human life,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University public health researcher who tracks overdose trends.

The nation was already struggling with its worst overdose epidemic but clearly "COVID has greatly exacerbated the crisis,” he added.

Lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get, experts said.

Perhaps the government should allocate more priority to mental health and the happiness of its people (it's mentioned in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence), instead of classifying its success in dollar terms?

But surely, also, drug problems would be better treated medically, rather than punitively.

Part of the issue with drugs is that the addicts hide their drug taking, for reasons that the drugs may be criminally obtained and held, and/or that there is often stigma associated with drug taking and its consequences.

If these people saw a doctor (I'm including Psychologists in this) about their problems, there could be harm mitigation and they could be weaned off the drugs in a controlled and caring manner responsive to their condition/s. They aren't going to get that sort of care elsewhere.

Also, there is an economic factor in the criminal supply of drugs. If the government decriminalized the drugs, and at the same time they could be offered under prescription, and cheaper that criminals could source them, that removes any criminal profit from drug dealing. Plus the drugs themselves would not be adulterated and would be administered in safer doses. This then feeds back into the medical care process of; harm minimization, dealing with the underlying causes for the need for drug taking, and weaning them off the drugs in a sensible and provably effective manner.

a reply to: chr0naut

Aren't Americans consuming about 80% of the world opioid supply?

Pharmaceutical companies spend an enormous amount on research and development but 10x more on advertisement.

a reply to: keukendeur

Was reading up on Benzodiazepines, they are sold as ‘street Valium’ and, while they may have a similar appearance to Valium tablets, some were found to contain diclazepam, other new benzodiazepines, a mixture of etizolam and the synthetic opioid U-47,700, or U-47,700 on its own – increasing the risk of accidental overdose.

Don't know if these are "over the counter" in the US?

originally posted by: keukendeur
a reply to: chr0naut

Aren't Americans consuming about 80% of the world opioid supply?

Pharmaceutical companies spend an enormous amount on research and development but 10x more on advertisement.

Perhaps the American process for dealing with drugs should be re-evaluated?

They could look at what is most effective in other countries, and modify those approaches for the US situation and culture/s.

a reply to: chr0naut

This is a DEEP issue in the US.

We read all the politicized headlines about "gun violence" and "gun deaths" in the US. The reality is: half of all gun deaths in the US are veterans killing themselves. This speaks to 2 points:

- These people are dying due to mostly preventable reasons. The failures of the VA is well known and documented. The fact that the US enters into wars for the purpose of financial gain over national security is inarguable. We break these young men, men who likely should be weeded out in basic training, and then toss them aside without much in the way of helping to put them back together.
- our news is politicized horse#, interchanging "gun violence" with "violence" as if they are one in the same. They grandstand on the corpses of soldiers who ended their own lives out of a desparation caused by corporate greed

Beyond that, back in the late 90's the advent of some medications really had a positive impact on psychosis and its treatment. But that meant that bed space was reduced. Right about the same time that we saw the current drug epidemic start to heat up (early 2000's), thanks to US military forays into Afghanistan.

Psychosis is not the standard for mental health, and shouldn't be seen as such. People who are just literally crushed by life need the same help. At the end of the day, the production (tax and otherwise) of our individual citizens makes it worthwhile for us to contribute towards the helping of others. What that means or looks like, i couldn't tell you. But i do know that what we are doing isn't working.

Genius is hidden behind crazy. We are pissing away enormous breakthroughs by ostracizing the mentally ill.

originally posted by: dug88
a reply to: putnam6

I honestly think, and have thought for years, the fentynyl epidemic was intentionally done by China. It comes from Chinese pharmaceutical companies and gets shipped over on barges to gangsters who process and distribute it.

There's no way in hell the Chinese pharmaceutical industry isn't heavily regulated and monitored by the CCP and strangely enough, despite coming from China, despite the fairly awful living conditions in major cities in China, they seem to lack the same kind of fentynyl crisis that's existed in North America for the last 5 years or so.

And north American governments have been letting this occur. In Vancouver here for sure the police turn a blind eye to the massive amounts of drugs imported into Vancouver ports. They let the Hell's angels roam free selling whatever they want.

There's one of the bloodiest gangwars in years going on in Vancouver right now over fentynyl selling turf. More people have been shot and killed so far this year in Vancouver over this than there are shootings in a year normally.

Overdoses are just a small part of the damage that # causes. What it does to the people who consume its lives is even worse than heroin. It gets cut into other drugs, so your not safe from it even if you don't touch opiates. Hell the dosage level is so small, that someone opening a bag of it next to you on the bus puts you at risk. It's straight evil stuff.

Western governments are also guilty of fomenting drug addiction in other countries as a means of political influence:

Opium Wars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps the CCP took the hint?

originally posted by: keukendeur
a reply to: putnam6

Decriminalizing and regulating distribution of drugs is by far the best way to reduce overdose deaths...

Not sure if I am allowed to say that here...but it's the truth

Probably so, but we are years if not decades from real government help here in the US at least. The last time our well-meaning but misguided government did mental health care we had crowded underfunded and corrupt asylums and institutions that brought us electroshock therapies, ice pick frontal lobotomies, and severe patient abuse mistreatment, and neglect.

Seems most times we do governmental this or that we throw loads of money at it, but its effectiveness and efficiency are usually extremely lacking. not to mention it becomes a political hot button and then we bounce back and forth depending on which party is in controlling power.

In the mental health area, the left is correct on a lot of issues and the right has a few they are correct about. Ultimately though no matter which system is being used if those around those in trouble don't have friends or family to reach out or help many never make it to any kind of organized professional help.

a reply to: dug88
My ex died of a fentanyl overdose last year in Vancouver. More overdose deaths than covid in BC in 2020 says a lot about our system. I'm not surprised it's happening everywhere. People are losing hope, and those who think help is readily available have it wrong. The system is crumbling.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: chr0naut

This is a DEEP issue in the US.

We read all the politicized headlines about "gun violence" and "gun deaths" in the US. The reality is: half of all gun deaths in the US are veterans killing themselves. This speaks to 2 points:

- These people are dying due to mostly preventable reasons. The failures of the VA is well known and documented. The fact that the US enters into wars for the purpose of financial gain over national security is inarguable. We break these young men, men who likely should be weeded out in basic training, and then toss them aside without much in the way of helping to put them back together.
- our news is politicized horse#, interchanging "gun violence" with "violence" as if they are one in the same. They grandstand on the corpses of soldiers who ended their own lives out of a desparation caused by corporate greed

Beyond that, back in the late 90's the advent of some medications really had a positive impact on psychosis and its treatment. But that meant that bed space was reduced. Right about the same time that we saw the current drug epidemic start to heat up (early 2000's), thanks to US military forays into Afghanistan.

Psychosis is not the standard for mental health, and shouldn't be seen as such. People who are just literally crushed by life need the same help. At the end of the day, the production (tax and otherwise) of our individual citizens makes it worthwhile for us to contribute towards the helping of others. What that means or looks like, i couldn't tell you. But i do know that what we are doing isn't working.

Genius is hidden behind crazy. We are pissing away enormous breakthroughs by ostracizing the mentally ill.

I agree with every point you have raised in this post.

But also, I would caution against defining a hard boundary upon what is 'mental illness' because that will alienate the very people most able to be helped by proper support.

Every person has problems and emotional issues. Even the psychopathic and autistic are not immune. It is a human thing. And, through life, the balance of rational vs emotional response is going to change.

I could use my experience as a case in point: A few years ago, I was suffering from mild depression and the doctor prescribed a new anti-depressant that he thought suited my situation. At first, it seemed that it worked, and I noticed I was having vivid and pleasant dreams as well. However, over a week or so, I began to have equally vivid nightmares. Then the pleasant dreams stopped entirely, while the nightmares continued. Over the next two weeks, the emotions from the nightmares, and the memories of them, began to manifest during waking hours, and kept becoming stronger. I was trying to hold it together, but was also becoming aware that it was the drug, and hoped that it would settle down. Then I had a daytime hallucination, so I stopped the drug cold turkey, informed my doctor, and after a week had returned to 'normal'.

The question is, was I mentally ill? I don't think so, and I don't think that labelling people as such is that helpful for the resolution's of their situations, either.

But I do think that helping people be happy, without drugs, should be something we hold to be vitally important in a well functioning society.