Opioid crisis in America is growing exponentially. Here's one way our Steemit community can take action
Drug overdose deaths in 2016 most likely exceeded 59,000, the largest annual jump ever recorded in the United States.
The death count is the latest consequence of an escalating public health crisis: opioid addiction, now made more deadly by an influx of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and similar drugs. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under 50.
Although the data is preliminary, the Times’s best estimate is that deaths rose 19 percent over the 52,404 recorded in 2015. And all evidence suggests the problem has continued to worsen in 2017.
Drug Overdose
Estimate for drug overdose deaths in US in 2016: 59,000
Estimate for drug overdose deaths in US in 2017: more than 70,000 (if recent annual rate of growth continues unchecked)
Annual US Car Crashes
Peak deaths in US from car crashes (in 1972): 55,000
Estimate for car crash deaths in US in 2016: 40,000 (The highest figure in 9 years, due to texting while driving)
Annual US Gun Deaths
Peak deaths in US from guns (in 1993): 39,000
Estimate for gun deaths in US in 2016: 33,000 (Almost 2/3 are suicide, almost 1/3 are homicide, remainder classified as accidental)
Opioid Addiction
I've found the following charity that is focused on addressing this public policy crisis. I believe we have an obligation to take action on this public policy issue using private charities, as opposed to just waiting for government to take action.
Shatterproof. Stronger than Addiction
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation that addiction causes families.
Proposal to the Steemit community on action we can take:
- I'll donate from my personal funds with a 3X match against whatever the final payout value is for this post
- This total will then get a further 1X match through an employer match I have access to
- Example A: If this post pays out at $100, I'll add $300 of my own funds to make the total $400. Total donation to Shatterproof will then be $800 after the 1:1 employer match.
- Example B: If this post pays out at $1,000, I'll add $3,000 of my own funds to make the total $4,000. Total donation to Shatterproof will then be $8,000 after the 1:1 employer match.
These donations will be possible due to charitable nature of the Steemit community, my personal 3X matching contribution, and the employer 1:1 match.
I'll make the donation to Shatterproof within one week of this post paying out on Steemit. I'll post copies of the receipts for the donation on Steemit.
If you think this is a worthwhile cause, you can take simple actions to help.
Please upvote at 100% and resteem.
Thank you in advance if you choose to participate.
STEEM On!!
Dave B
Source image from Washington Post, initial source text from NYTimes
One way we can combat this problem is getting all non-abuse-deterrent opioids banned. States are starting to do this in the USA and companies like EGALET are making amazing opioids that can not be abused.
Solutions are needed, the problem cannot keep growing unchecked.
Thanks for reading and commenting
STEEM On!!
DaveB
Informative stuff dude
This post received a 2.9% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @ehujra! For more information, click here!
Opiate addiction hit my family, the place to start is the pharmaceutical industry that markets their crap like candy. They need to be held accountable. They are nothing but drug dealers who evade prosecution.
Sorry to hear of the issues so close. I agree Big Pharma needs to be held to legal account
STEEM On!!
There is a beautiful and at the same time devastating documentary about this subject called 'Oxyana' by director Sean Dunne.
I have a copy which I could upload via Wetransfer? But perhaps people should support this film by just buying it. It's less than a ticket to the cinema.
but still Janet Yellen blaming this for low employment is such a joke. let's face it.. how many real jobs with proper benefits have been created in the past few years.. lot of the so called non farm payroll is coming from waiters and waitresses that are often part time with no real benefits
Against my better judgment I upvoted a comment that included reference to Janet Yellen.
The same lady that promised we would never have another financial crisis in our life-time.
She is either an liar, or an idiot. Not sure which yet.
Thanks for support
STEEM On !!
Dave B
It is very sad. This has become a major problem.
Thanks for support
STEEM On !!
Dave B
So sad I don't know how dealers could help others be closer to death..
The real tradegy is in most cases the problems start with the US health care industry, where doctors write scripts for Oxycontin, Percocet, others. People get addicted. The prescription runs out. And they turn to illegal drugs to meet their addictive needs.
Collusion between Big Pharma and health care industry starts the cycle.
Lack of control at the border to stop illegal drugs flooding the country is the finishing touch.
Trump will pivot his messaging in the next couple of weeks, with Scarmucci. The wall isn't primarily to keep out the aliens. It is primarily to slow the tsunami of illegal drugs that are killing 70,000 Americans per year.
STEEM On!!
I have lost many people in my life due to overdose . Breaks my heart .. all we can do is spread awareness.
Steem on my friend !!
Thank you. DaveB
The problem is cultural. Did you know that in the Philippines up until recently you could not even get morphine if dying of cancer because the filipinos believe that pain is natural from God. That is a bit extreme I think, as I think terminal illness should be allowed pain relief.
But the greater point here is that it is the culture of the West which is the real fundamental source of the problem. For example the psychological problem of removing the responsibility of men and replacing it with socialism, divorce, and feminism.
I clarified my prior comments and made a new comment which hopefully explains that I do care but I am afraid we are not helping:
https://steemit.com/money/@anonymint/get-ready-for-a-world-currency#@davebrewer/re-anonymint-get-ready-for-a-world-currency-20170723t032052988z
60 years ago it was similar in North America. No morphine for those dying of cancer. You could die screaming in a straight jacket.
Since then culture has over corrected. Now pain is treated for its own sake, no matter how minor, with prescriptions.
Big Pharma pushing more drugs than are really medically needed.
But Big Pharma has higher paid lobbyists in Washington than medical marijuana industry, so the unnecessary pills keep flowing.
I'm hoping Trump succeeds in "draining the swamp".
But he has a huge uphill fight in front of him. There is a lot of money sloshing around in Washington and Trump is threatening to shut that all down.
He has a lot of people in Washington that want him to fail.
There are too many people in Washington that pay off both Democrats and Republicans, and buy there way into halls of power.
Kratom has been helping a lot of people get off of opiates. Unfortunately, the DEA is attempting to ban Kratom and delegitimize its benefits. Have you heard of Kratom or used it? It's a great, simple remedy. That'd be a good thing to promote on future posts about Opiates.
Thanks for support
STEEM On!!
DaveB
I have only anecdotal evidence from a good friend kratom is effective without terrible side effects (but I find it's pretty convincing)- but it usually is far MORE effective when combined with nutritional modifications, and gets very complicated for the very people who are less than capable of devoting the time, attention, and energy to self-treat their terrible medical problems. It's obviously NOT the one-pill magic bullet, but then opioids and most of the other powerful drugs the pharmas and ordinary doctors are pushing for for maximizing profit and convenience are definitely not either.
Yeah I was going to comment about kratom, definitely something for OP and others to consider for helping people get off and stay off opiate addictions.
Thanks to the pharmaceutical controlled government the only approved 'legimate' painkillers I can get for the aftereffects of a stroke I had 4 years ago are oxicontin or hydrocodone based while I'd rather have something more natural based on medical marijuana
Medical marijuana is going to be at least a part of the solution to this problem. Politicians that stand in the way of that outcome need to be run out of office. Fortunately for them tar and feathering has went out of style
STEEM On !!
DaveB
This need to be resteemed to reach more and more people i am doing my Bit !!
Thanks for support
STEEM On!!
DaveB
love youre post bro... really informative..