Gizmodo - Looking at how the opioid epidemic has affected U.S. life expectancy between 2000 and 2015, scientists at the CDC learned that on average, drug poisoning deaths are accounting for an average loss of .21 years, around two and a half months.
The researchers came to their conclusions based on data from the National Vital Statistics System Mortality file and factored these into calculations of the United States life expectancy in 2000 and 2015. “Drug-poisoning deaths increased from 17,415 in 2000 to 52,404 in 2015,” and the drug poisoning death rate per 100,000 people increased from 6.2 to 16.2, mostly due to opioids, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
American life expectancy is faltering. Last year, it was reported that life expectancy decreased for the first time since 1993. Our life expectancy “is now lower than in most high-income countries, with this gap projected to increase,” according to the paper.
In 2015, 86,212 more Americans died than the year before.
2 comments:
'Opioid epidemic' is a common phrase in the MSM these days.
It's true that some of the addictions are the result of prescribed drugs, but certainly many more are the result of people choosing to take street drugs.
If it's an epidemic, it's a disease, and if it's a disease, the addicted are victims, not to blame for their condition.
The media, by referring to the opioid 'epidemic' are implying that personal responsibility for addiction is not to be considered; people themselves are blameless because they're infected by this disease.
The fact is, many turn to street drugs because of the harsh conditions of life under US capitalism.
So many are addicts by their own volition, but this is never mentioned in the media. The spin is always 'pity all these poor victims'.
I wonder why that is.
So, don't take opiods!
Or do, and live shorter. Like the song says, smoked 'em half my life and I ain't dead yet...
Another Look Well Oh Wolves (Akela) type situation.
Cheers, Tom
Post a Comment