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Overdose Death Rates | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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The U.S. government does not track death rates for every drug. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving many of the more commonly used drugs available through 2020 at a searchable database, ca…

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The Opioids are coming from Mexican Cartels that grow and Make it in Mexico and then Move into major cities and sell the drugs the most common drugs to make it into the U.S from Mexico are Fentanyl and Heroin Marijuana is Not as common to be imported into the U.S from Mexico because it has a strong smell and is easily trackable.
Marijuana is usually grown in the U.S In small private farms hidden from the outside so that the government can't see it and bust you for drugs.

"marijuana is a Beginner Drug that is easily gotten a hold of in the U.S"

Other drugs are less common as starter drugs because they are more expensive and have a Higher rate of death and a lower rate of addiction than when compared to marijuana.

"Officials have gone to a less restrictive but working treatments"

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Image credit: Luis Alvarez | Getty Images

9 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Marie Curie, Sigmund Freud...these are just a few of the critical thinkers who have shaped our modern lives. Critical thinkers think clearly and rationally, and make logical connections between ideas -- they are crucial to exploring and understanding the world we live in.

Critical thinking is more than just the accumulation of facts and knowledge; it's a way of approaching whatever is presently occupying your mind so that you come to the best possible conclusion. Critical thinkers are focused on constantly upgrading their knowledge, and they engage in independent self-learning. They make some of the best leaders, because they can reach new planes of self-improvement and self-actualization.

If you're hoping to reach your full potential and make your mark on the world, cultivate the following 16 characteristics of critical thinkers.

1. Observation

Observation is one of the earliest critical thinking skills we learn as children -- it's our ability to perceive and understand the world around us. Careful observation includes our ability to document details, and to collect data through our senses. Our observations will eventually lead to insight and a deeper understanding of the world.
Related: 4 Eating Habit Changes That Can Boost Your Critical Thinking
2. Curiosity

Curiosity is a core trait of many successful leaders. Being inherently inquisitive and interested in the world and people around you is a hallmark of leaders who are critical thinkers. Instead of taking everything at face value, a curious person will wonder why something is the way it is.

As we get older, it's easier to put aside what may seem like childish curiosity. Curiosity forces you to keep an open mind and propels you to gain deeper knowledge -- all of which are also fundamental to being a lifelong learner.

3. Objectivity

Good critical thinkers are able to stay as objective as possible when looking at information or a situation. They focus on facts, and on the scientific evaluation of the information at hand. Objective thinkers seek to keep their emotions (and those of others) from affecting their judgment.

However, it's impossible for people to remain completely objective, because we're all shaped by our points of view, our life experiences and our perspectives. Being aware of our biases is the first step to being objective and looking at an issue dispassionately. Once you're able to remove yourself from the situation, you can more thoroughly analyze it.
Related: Use This Simple Math Problem to Kick Critical Thinking Into High Gear
4. Introspection

This is the art of being aware of your thinking -- or, to put it another way, thinking about how you think about things. Critical thinkers need introspection so they're aware of their own degree of alertness and attentiveness, as well as their biases. This is your ability to examine your inner-most thoughts, feelings and sensations. Introspection is closely related to self-reflection, which gives you insight into your emotional and mental state.

5. Analytical thinking

The best analytical thinkers are also critical thinkers, and vice versa. The ability to analyze information is key when looking at any almost anything, whether it is a contract, report, business model or even a relationship.

Analyzing information means to break information down to its component parts and evaluate how well those parts function together and separately. Analysis relies on observation; on gathering and evaluating evidence so you can come to a meaningful conclusion. Analytical thinking begins with objectivity.

6. Identifying biases

Critical thinkers challenge themselves to identify the evidence that forms their beliefs and assess whether or not those sources are credible. Doing this helps you understand your own biases and question your preconceived notions.

This is an important step in becoming aware of how biases intrude on your thinking and recognizing when information may be skewed. When looking at information, ask yourself who the information benefits. Does the source of this information have an agenda? Does the source overlook or leave out information that doesn't support its claims or beliefs?
Related: Most Grads Say College Taught Them Few Critical Thinking Skills
7. Determining relevance

One of the most difficult parts of thinking critically is figuring out what information is the most relevant, meaningful and important for your consideration. In many scenarios, you'll be presented with information that may seem valuable, but it may turn out to be only a minor data point to consider.

Consider if a source of information is logically relevant to the issue being discussed. Is it truly useful and unbiased, or it is it merely distracting from a more pertinent point?

8. Inference

Information doesn't always come with a summary that spells out exactly what it means. Critical thinkers need to assess the information and draw conclusions based on raw data. Inference is the ability to extrapolate meaning from data and discover potential outcomes when assessing a scenario.

It is also important to understand the difference between inference and assumptions. For example, if you see data that someone weighs 260 pounds, you might assume they are overweight or unhealthy. However, other data points like height and body composition may alter that conclusion.
Related: 6 Obstacles to Creative Thinking and How to Overcome Them
9. Compassion and empathy.

Having compassion and empathy may seem like a negative for critical thinkers. After all, being sentimental and emotional can skew our perception of a situation. But the point of having compassion is to have concern for others and to value the welfare of other people.

Without compassion, we would view all information and situations from the viewpoint of cold, heartless scientific facts and data. It would be easy to allow our cynicism to become toxic, and to be suspicious of everything we look at. But to be a good critical thinker, we must always take into account the human element. Not everything we do is about detached data and information -- it's also about people.

10. Humility

Humility is the willingness to acknowledge one's shortcomings and see one's positive attributes in an accurate way. When you have humility, you are aware of your flaws, but also your strengths, and this is an important element in critical thinking and being willing to stretch and open your mind.

When you have intellectual humility, you're open to other people's viewpoints, you recognize when you're wrong and you're willing to challenge your own beliefs when necessary.

11. Willing to challenge the status quo.

Critical thinking means questioning long-established business practices and refusing to adhere to traditional methods simply because that's the way it's always been done. Critical thinkers are looking for smart, thoughtful answers and methods that take into account all the current and relevant information and practices available. Their willingness to challenge the status quo may seem controversial, but it's an essential part of the creative and innovative mind of a critical thinker.

12. Open-mindedness

Being able to step back from a situation and not become embroiled helps critical thinkers see the broader view. Critical thinkers avoid launching into a frenzied argument or taking sides -- they want to hear all perspectives. Critical thinkers don't jump to conclusions. They approach a question or situation with an open mind and embrace other opinions and views.

13. Aware of common thinking errors.

Critical thinkers don't allow their logic and reasoning to become clouded by illusions and misconceptions. They are aware of common logical fallacies, which are errors in reasoning that often creep into arguments and debates. Some common errors in thinking include:

Circular reasoning, in which the premise of an argument or a conclusion is used as support for the argument itself.

Cognitive shortcut bias, in which you stubbornly stick to a favored view or argument when other more effective possibilities or explanations exist.

Confusing correlation with causation. In other words, asserting that when two things happen together, one causes the other. Without direct evidence, this assumption isn't justified.

14. Creative thinking

Effective critical thinkers are also largely creative thinkers. Creative thinkers reject standardized formats for problem solving -- they think outside the box. They have a wide range of interests and adopt multiple perspectives on a problem. They're also open to experimenting with different methods and considering different viewpoints.

The biggest difference between critical thinkers and creative thinkers is that creativity is associated with generating ideas, while critical thinking is associated with analyzing and appraising those ideas. Creativity is important to bringing in novel ideas; critical thinking can bring those ideas into clearer focus.

15. Effective communicators

In many cases, problems with communication are based on an inability to think critically about a situation or see it from different perspectives. Effective communication starts with a clear thought process.

Critical thinking is the tool we use to coherently build our thoughts and express them. Critical thinking relies on following another person's thought process and line of reasoning. An effective critical thinker must be able to relay his or her ideas in a compelling way and then absorb the responses of others.

16. Active listeners

Critical thinkers don't just want to get their point across to others; they are also careful to engage in active listening and really hear others' points of view. Instead of being a passive listener during a conversation or discussion, they actively try to participate.

They ask questions to help them distinguish facts from assumptions. They gather information and seek to gain insight by asking open-ended questions that probe deeper into the issue.

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9 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Marie Curie, Sigmund Freud...these are just a few of the critical thinkers who have shaped our modern lives. Critical thinkers think clearly and rationally, and make logical connections between ideas -- they are crucial to exploring and understanding the world we live in.

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This is a problem based on the amount of increase in deaths of people from drug overdose this death has risen Significantly in the White Black and Hispanic Races.

The most probable cause of death from people on drugs are that they go and drive in a car and crash because their reflexes and Judgement are depressed by the drugs. The difference between stopping drugs and limiting drugs is that one spreads more quickly and the other causes drugs to take a slower approach to becoming a Popular drug for Younger people witch in turn spread it to others making the drugs popular and easy to get a hold of.

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This article is very in-depth and shows a lot of way to prevent drugs from entering your household.

There are many ways like:
- Forceful removal
- Talks about it
- Family help to Remove

*These are only like the first ones.

The best way to prevent drugs is just to talk about it with your family and children setup a  safe place where they can talk about whats wrong instead of trusting drugs instead.

If you have a family member that is on Drugs and needs help one of the strongest types of help is family help you can slowly ease them off the drugs keeping a good eye on them to see how and when they are doing the drugs to try and fix the issues.

This website offers Behavioral counseling aswell as meditational treatment. and gives easy ways to get off drugs in simple well laid out steps.

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The Article is very short and states that medication abuse is an issue because all the things in the medications are things that are also addictive. The NIH (National Institute of Health) states that by regulation they have put substances into the medications that are supposed to reverse the effects of the Addictive materials in the Medications.

How are People still getting addicted if they are putting other things into the Medication to make it not addictive?

(I reloaded this website and now its blocked -_- )

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One of my earliest memories is of trying to wake up one of my relatives and not being able to. And I was just a little kid, so I didn't really understand why, but as I got older, I realized we had drug addiction in my family, including later cocaine addiction.

This is a very serious issue and effect children In the united states and in other countries around the world.
if you have children why are you doing drugs? whats the point of having kids if you are just going to leave them someday.
This talk was very inspiring about how the people in the world are able to just keep up and going and most of the time just ignore that fact that the people they love are putting their lives at risk by doing drugs.

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Johann Hari: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | TED Talk

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What really causes addiction -- to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do -- and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

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"Drugs are a part of the way of life now".
The ways that drugs come into peoples lives and Families has changed and is still changing as more and more things try to stop them from doing the drugs. This is why it is best to not stop the use of drugs entirely but strictly enforce the amounts that people are allowed to take......

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Expand All

People drink to socialize, celebrate, and relax. Alcohol often has a strong effect on people-and throughout history,people have struggled to understand and manage alcohol's power. Why does alcohol cause people to act and feel differently? How much is too much? Why do some people become addicted while others do not? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is researching the answers to these and many other questions about alcohol. Here's what is known:

Alcohol's effects vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors, including:

How much you drink

How often you drink

Your age

Your health status

Your family history

While drinking alcohol is itself not necessarily a problem- drinking too much can cause a range of consequences, and increase your risk for a variety of problems. For more information on alcohol's effects on the body, please see the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's related web page describing alcohol's effects on the body.

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A hallucinogenic tea made in the Amazon from a DMT-containing plant ( Psychotria viridis) along with another vine ( Banisteriopsis caapi) that contains an MAO inhibitor preventing the natural breakdown of DMT in the digestive system, thereby enhancing serotonergic activity. It was used historically in Amazonian religious and healing rituals. For more information, see the Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs Research Report.

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A depressant approved for use in the treatment of narcolepsy, a disorder that causes daytime "sleep attacks."

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Drugs that cause profound distortions in a person's perceptions of reality, such as ketamine, LSD, mescaline (peyote), PCP, psilocybin, salvia, DMT, and ayahuasca. For more information, see the Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs Research Report.

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Pronounced "cot," a shrub ( Catha edulis) found in East Africa and southern Arabia; contains the psychoactive chemicals cathinone and cathine. People from African and Arabian regions (up to an estimated 20 million worldwide) have used khat for centuries as part of cultural tradition and for its stimulant-like effects.

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A hallucinogen manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. LSD is an abbreviation of the scientific name lysergic acid diethylamide. For more information, see the Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs Research Report.

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Pain relievers with an origin similar to that of heroin. Opioids can cause euphoria and are often used nonmedically, leading to overdose deaths. For more information, see the Misuse of Prescription Drugs Research Report

Captain Cody, Cody, Lean, Schoolboy, Sizzurp, Purple Drank
With gluteth- imide: Doors & Fours, Loads, Pancakes and Syrup

Codeine (various brand names)

Tablet, capsule, liquid

Injected, swallowed (often mixed with soda and flavorings)

II, III, V**

Apache, China Girl, China White, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfella, Jackpot, Murder 8, Tango and Cash, TNT

Fentanyl (Actiq ®, Duragesic ®, Sublimaze ®)

Lozenge, sublingual tablet, film, buccal tablet

Injected, smoked, snorted

II**

Vike, Watson-387

Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone (Vicodin®, Norco ® , Zohydro®, and others)

Capsule, liquid, tablet

Swallowed, snorted, injected

II**

Amidone, Fizzies
With MDMA: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Methadone (Dolophine ®, Methadose ®)

Tablet, dispersible tablet, liquid

Swallowed, injected

II**

M, Miss Emma, Monkey, White Stuff

Morphine ( Duramorph®, MS Contin®)

Tablet, liquid, capsule, suppository

Injected, swallowed, smoked

II, III**

O.C., Oxycet, Oxycotton, Oxy, Hillbilly Heroin, Percs

Oxycodone (OxyContin ®, Percodan ®, Percocet ®, and others)

Capsule, liquid, tablet

Swallowed, snorted, injected

II**

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A benzodiazepine chemically similar to prescription sedatives such as Valium® and Xanax®. Teens and young adults tend to misuse this drug at bars, nightclubs, concerts, and parties. It has been used to commit sexual assaults due to its ability to sedate and incapacitate unsuspecting victims.

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A dissociative drug (Salvia divinorum) that is an herb in the mint family native to southern Mexico. Dissociative drugs are hallucinogens that cause the user to feel detached from reality. For more information, see the Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs Research Report.

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A wide variety of herbal mixtures containing man-made cannabinoid chemicals related to THC in marijuana but often much stronger and more dangerous. Sometimes misleadingly called "synthetic marijuana" and marketed as a "natural," "safe," legal alternative to marijuana. For more information, see the Synthetic Cannabinoids DrugFacts.

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Most drugs of abuse can alter a person's thinking and judgment, leading to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving and infectious disease. Most drugs could potentially harm an unborn baby; pregnancy-related issues are listed in the chart below for drugs where there is enough scientific evidence to connect the drug use to specific negative effects.

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Experts in Recovery

For more than seven decades, people working to overcome substance abuse have trusted and turned to Fairbanks for world-class, evidence-based drug and alcohol addiction services. We treat you or your loved one with scientifically supported treatments like MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment), innovative treatments such as our Origins Women's Trauma program, specialized young adult programs, Fairbanks Online IOP, group therapy and a variety of available inpatient, outpatient and long-term residential programs. As experts in recovery, our skilled, licensed staff provides the proven, personalized treatment programs you need to live in recovery. There is Hope. Recovery is Possible.

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Fairbanks Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment Center | Indianapolis, IN

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For more than seven decades, people working to overcome substance abuse have trusted and turned to Fairbanks for world-class, evidence-based drug and alcohol addiction services.

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Addiction is a compulsive or persistent behavior that individuals continue to do despite the obvious negative effect on their lives. People can be addicted to virtually anything, with the most common addictions including alcohol, sex, drugs, eating and gambling. The type of addiction treatments an individual receives will be influenced by several factors including, type of addiction, age and past medical history. Just as there are many different possible addictions, there are several addiction treatment choices; this ensures that people receive the treatment most suitable for their needs.

Medically Assisted Detoxification

A medically assisted detoxification is most commonly used in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. When individuals suddenly stop taking the substance, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. A medically assisted detox involves the use of substitute medication to reduce the effects of these symptoms. Medications, such as methadone and Suboxone, are commonly used in the treatment of opioid addiction. Disulfiram and acamprosate are both approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcoholism treatment. Individuals wishing to go through a medically assisted detox can do so as an outpatient or an inpatient. However, actual administration of the medication has to take place under supervision of a physician or pharmacist. Certain substitute medications can only be administered in a hospital, which means individuals with severe addictions should consider staying in hospital. The detox is seen as the first stage of the addictions treatment process, as people are often not able to recover by just detox alone. If you believe you may have an addiction and would like to speak to someone in confidence for advice, please consider calling 1-888-439-3435 Who Answers? .

Behavioral Counseling

Behavioral Addiction Treatment

Behavioral addiction treatment can be complicated because no illicit substance is involved. Instead, behavioral addiction is defined as any repetitive behavior that the person repeats over and over again without considering any negative consequences. Common forms of behavioral addiction include addictions to gambling, the Internet, shopping, and sex.

According to the University of Utah, behavioral counseling enables addicts to understand their addiction and learn new thinking patterns. All addictions involve a deep psychological dependence. For example, drug addicts will convince themselves they need the drug to function normally. Gamblers will convince themselves they need to gamble to regain control of their finances. All addicts will believe they cannot live without, or certainly live properly, without their addiction. Behavioral therapy teaches people they do not need their addiction and that there are many more things they could choose to do instead. Cognitive therapy involves helping people address their addiction triggers. For example, certain places or people may make an alcoholic more likely to drink. Therefore, it is important that these individuals are taught how to face these high-risk situations without turning to drink, drugs or whatever behavior they are addicted too. Behavioral therapists will also work with the individuals and their families, involving the loved ones in a couple of sessions if appropriate. The idea is to teach people how to cope with everyday life, including stressful situations, while giving them the motivation to stay away from the source if their addiction. Therapy is an important part of the recovery process and, According to the University of North Carolina, when combined with the most suitable medication, it offers a person the best chance at a successful recovery.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

As well as the discussed outpatient programs, most hospitals and rehabilitation centers offer inpatient programs. This type of addiction treatment is most commonly alcohol and drug rehab, although there are inpatient rehabilitation programs for Internet, sex and eating addictions. When attending an inpatient program, people may be required to stay short term, which can be for anywhere up to 28 days. People with more severe addictions may have to stay in rehab for up to four months. The main advantage to inpatient rehabilitation is the fact individuals are monitored 24-hours a day for the duration of their program. This means they are medically supervised, as well as having the chance to attend one-on-one therapy and group therapy sessions. Because some medication taken during alcoholism and drug rehab can only be administered in a hospital, it is easier for the addicts if they are in an inpatient addiction treatment program.

Treatment Preferences

In 2016, data were collected by Recovery Brands asking patients who were leaving a treatment clinic what facility characteristics they saw as vital things to consider when deciding on treatment. The highest-rated priority was the center's financial options, like payment options, financial support, and insurance accepted. They also valued program offerings (room quality, quality of food, facility housing, etc.) a lot more after treatment. People new to treatment will want to examine a clinic's money and payment options as well as clinic offerings to help them make their final treatment decision.

For details on inpatient and outpatient services please call this confidential helpline at 1-888-439-3435 Who Answers? . Alternatively, you can complete a quick reply form.

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Addiction Treatments - Addiction Treatment

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Print Version In This Article Medically Assisted Detoxification Behavioral Counseling Inpatient Rehabilitation Addiction is a compulsive or persistent behavior that individuals continue to do despite the obvious negative effect on their lives. People can be addicted to virtually anything, with the most common addictions including alcohol, sex, drugs, eating and gambling.

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Introduction

The United States is grappling with one of its worst-ever drug crises. More than eight hundred people a week die from opioid-related overdoses, and some experts say the death toll may not peak for years. Meanwhile, millions more Americans suffer from opioid addiction.

The crisis has reached such a scale that, beyond the risks it poses to public health, it is becoming a drag on the economy and a threat to national security. Analysts say the problem started with the overprescription of legal pain medications, like oxycodone, but note that it has intensified in recent years with an influx of cheap heroin and synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, supplied by foreign-based drug cartels.

In recent years, the U.S. government has ramped up efforts to cut both the foreign and domestic supply of opioids, limiting the number of prescriptions in the United States while providing counternarcotics assistance to countries including Mexico and China. Meanwhile, federal and state officials have attempted to reduce demand by focusing less on punishing drug users and more on treating them. Other countries where opioid use has also spiked, such as Canada and Australia, are experimenting with different policies.

What drugs are contributing to the crisis?

Opioids, a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy plant, can be divided into two broad categories: legally manufactured medications and illicit narcotics.

Opioid medications, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, are commonly prescribed to treat pain, while methadone is primarily used in addiction treatment centers to reduce patients' dependence on opioids. Opioids gained popularity among doctors in the 1990s for treating patients who had undergone surgery or cancer treatment, but in the last fifteen years physicians have increasingly prescribed them for chronic conditions, such as back or joint pain, despite concerns about their safety and effectiveness.

We didn't develop an opioid epidemic until there was a huge surplus of opioids, which started with pharmaceutical drugs.

Bridget G. Brennan,

Heroin has for decades been the most commonly used illegal opioid. Over the last several years the heroin supply in the United States has soared, and the drug can now be obtained for a third of the price it was in the early 1990s.

People in the last few years have increasingly turned to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, which is especially lethal. Some law enforcement officials have labeled the drug "manufactured death" because it is cheaper and up to fifty times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl-related deaths are largely caused by the drug's illegal use, though it can also be prescribed as a painkiller. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that heroin and fentanyl are most often used in combination with other drugs, such as cocaine, or alcohol, which increases the risk of overdose.

What is the scale of the epidemic?

Overdose deaths involving opioids have increased fivefold since 1999. In 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, opioid overdoses killed more than forty-two thousand people, or more than six times the number of U.S. military servicemembers killed in the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The opioid mortality rate that year contributed to the second straight yearly decline of life expectancy [PDF] in the United States. (The country last experienced such a decline in the 1960s.)

Many health experts attribute the rising death toll to what they say has been years of overprescribing by physicians. Doctors began prescribing more opioids amid a growing concern that pain was going undertreated, and also because pharmaceutical companies began marketing them more aggressively while claiming they posed little risk. Health-care providers have reported feeling pressure to prescribe opioid medications rather than alternatives, such as physical therapy or acupuncture, because patients request them and other treatments are often more costly or less accessible.

Opioid-related deaths have grown in lockstep with the volume of opioids prescribed. A spike in the use of illegal opioids in the United States followed the rise in prescriptions, as many users turn to heroin and other illegal drugs once they can no longer obtain enough of their prescribed drug to keep pace with what may be a developing addiction. "We didn't develop an opioid epidemic until there was a huge surplus of opioids, which started with pharmaceutical drugs distributed legally," says New York Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan.

What are the demographics of the opioid crisis?

The vast majority of those who overdose on opioids are non-Hispanic white Americans, who make up more than 80 percent of the annual total. Non-Hispanic black Americans and Hispanic Americans each account for about 10 percent of cases. Economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton have argued that the rise in what they call " deaths of despair," which include drug overdoses, particularly among white Americans without college degrees, are primarily the result of wages stagnating over the last four decades and a decline in available jobs.

U.S. military veterans, many of whom suffer from chronic pain as a result of their service, account for a disproportionately high number of opioid-related deaths. Veterans are twice as likely as the general population to die from an opioid overdose, according to a study commissioned by the National Institutes of Health.

What have been the socioeconomic consequences?

The opioid epidemic is having devastating consequences on public health, causing high rates of hepatitis C, HIV, and other diseases, mainly due to shared syringes. Meanwhile, mothers may pass an opioid dependency on to their children if they use while pregnant. Incidences of neonatal abstinence syndrome almost quadrupled from 2000 to 2012. The opioid crisis may also have contributed to an uptick in the number of children in foster care.

Opioids have also begun to take a toll on the economy. Testifying before the U.S. Senate, Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen linked the opioid epidemic to declining labor-force participation among "prime-age workers." Princeton University economist Alan Krueger says it could account for 20 percent of the decline in participation among men and 25 percent among women from 1999 to 2015. As one example of this, a boiler manufacturing company in Ohio, the state with the second-largest number of opioid-related deaths, reported that at least a quarter of its job applicants failed drug tests. The firm says the workforce shortage costs it roughly $800,000 in orders a year, which end up going to foreign competitors.

Where are the heroin and fentanyl coming from?

The opioid crisis has also become a national security concern. Most of the heroin coming into the United States is cultivated on poppy farms in Mexico, with eight cartels controlling production and operating distribution hubs in major U.S. cities. Mexican cartels, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has called the "greatest criminal drug threat to the United States," typically smuggle narcotics across the U.S. southwest border in passenger vehicles or tractor trailers. Large quantities of heroin are also produced in South American countries, particularly Colombia, and trafficked to the United States by air and sea. Although most of the world's heroin comes from Afghanistan, only a small portion of the U.S. supply is produced there.

Most fentanyl coming to the United States is produced in China, U.S. officials say, and commonly transited through Mexico. Chinese authorities "have struggled to adequately regulate thousands of chemical and pharmaceutical facilities operating legally and illegally in the country," says a 2017 report [PDF] issued by a congressionally mandated commission.

What has the United States done to restrict foreign narcotics?

Over the past decade, the United States has provided Mexico with nearly $3 billion in counternarcotics aid, including for police and judicial reforms, in a program known as the Merida Initiative. The initiative, which U.S. officials say led to the capture of some top cartel leaders, including Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has continued under the administration of President Donald J. Trump, though funding has declined in recent years. Through a similar partnership with Colombia, the United States has provided almost $10 billion since 2000; it effectively drew to a close following the end to civil conflict there in 2016.

The DEA, the leading U.S. agency involved in counternarcotics, has also coordinated efforts with China, which has designated more than one hundred synthetic drugs as controlled substances. Beijing banned production of four fentanyl variations in 2017, although some analysts fear these moves will only spur clandestine labs to create new alternatives.

Recent U.S. administrations have also increased the number of border patrol agents to approximately twenty thousand. Heroin seizures and trafficking arrests more than doubled [PDF] between 2010 and 2015, mostly near the southwestern border.

In his first weeks in office, President Trump issued executive orders directing the construction of a southern border wall and additional increases to the number of border patrol agents. Some analysts say a wall would do little to curb drug flows, however, as most illicit drugs are smuggled through ports of entry.

What are some efforts to restrict domestic supply?

Federal agencies, state governments, insurance providers, and physicians all influence the supply of opioid medications.

Federal regulators have introduced new limits on opioid prescriptions, reducing the total nationwide by 18 percent from their 2010 peak to 2015, according to the CDC. The agency issued guidelines in March 2016 advising physicians not to prescribe opioids as a first-line therapy. The DEA reduced production quotas for pharmaceutical manufacturers by at least 25 percent that year for opioids categorized as Schedule II drugs, or ones that are currently accepted for medical use but carry high risk of misuse; these include oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine. The agency has proposed additional cuts for 2018. Reporting by the Washington Post and 60 Minutes, however, found that a law passed in 2016 after heavy lobbying by pharmaceutical companies has effectively stripped the DEA of its ability to freeze suspicious shipments of narcotics.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in August 2017 that the Justice Department will hire a dozen attorneys to investigate health-care providers suspected of dispensing prescription opioids for nonmedical use.

Additionally, lawmakers in more than fifteen states have passed or are considering legislation limiting opioid prescriptions since the start of 2016. States including Mississippi, Ohio, and Oklahoma, as well as dozens of cities, are suing pharmaceutical companies, alleging they overstated the benefits of prescription opioids and concealed the risks.

What is the United States doing to reduce demand?

Previous federal antidrug campaigns relied on incarceration to deter drug use and trafficking but have been widely criticized for failing to keep people from cycling in and out of prison and for disproportionately targeting African Americans. In recent years, federal and state officials have shifted toward prevention and treatment.

President Barack Obama reduced prison sentences for hundreds of nonviolent drug offenders during his tenure. However, he failed to secure legislation that would have eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug crimes. His administration also established hundreds of new drug courts, which proponents say are a more effective alternative to incarceration. Drug courts, the first of which was launched in 1989, under the George H.W. Bush administration, provide nonviolent offenders an alternative to the criminal-justice system that involves monitoring and rehabilitation services rather than prison time.

In recent years, federal and state officials have shifted toward prevention and treatment.

In 2016, President Obama signed legislation authorizing more than $1 billion in funding, largely in the form of state grants, to expand opioid treatment and prevention programs, as well as make the drug naloxone, which can counteract opioid overdoses in emergencies, more readily available.

Some city and local governments have launched what are known as harm-reduction programs, which focus on limiting virus transmission and overdoses through the promotion of safer drug use. Critics of such programs argue that decriminalization would lead to higher rates of drug use.

In October 2017, President Trump declared the epidemic a public health emergency, freeing up some federal grant funds for states to direct toward the crisis and loosening restrictions on access to treatment. Meanwhile, a presidential commission has recommended other policies [PDF] to combat the crisis.

Many working on the issue believe the government should direct more resources toward educating the public about risks. "I don't think we've done enough in terms of informing people about the dangers-about the nexus between opioid medication and heroin and illicit drugs," says Brennan. "If we did the kind of information campaign that was so successful with tobacco, I think we could see terrific results."

How are other countries dealing with opioid addiction?

The Netherlands. The Netherlands permits the sale and use of small amounts of cannabis to steer users away from so-called hard drugs [PDF], such as cocaine and heroin, and has implemented harm-reduction policies. In the 1990s the country began offering heroin at no cost, and the rate of high-risk or so-called problem use has halved from 2002 to some fourteen thousand in 2012 [PDF], according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Proponents of decriminalization point to the Netherlands for evidence that these policies work, though critics claim they have not curbed organized crime.

Canada. Amid a growing opioid crisis of its own, Canada has authorized the opening of supervised consumption sites and partnered with China to curb fentanyl flows into the country, but the health ministry says "huge gaps" remain in the government's ability to track and respond to the problem. A government report on opioid-related deaths in 2016-there were some 2,500-was the first attempt at a nationwide tally. Meanwhile, British Colombia and Alberta, two of Canada's most populous provinces, have declared a public health emergency and crisis, respectively, boosting funding for addiction treatment and increasing access to naloxone.

Australia. Heroin use in Australia declined following an abrupt shortage of the drug in 2000, but the country has seen a sharp increase in the use of prescription opioids, now the cause of more than two-thirds of opioid-related deaths there. In 2012, the health ministry announced it would launch a nationwide electronic system already being used in Tasmania to monitor opioid prescriptions, but it has not yet been rolled out. The government is expected to ban over-the-counter painkillers containing codeine starting in 2018, noting that the move is a "very broad-brush approach" to the issue.

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The United States is grappling with one of its worst-ever drug crises. More than eight hundred people a week die from opioid-related overdoses, and some experts say the death toll may not peak for years. Meanwhile, millions more Americans suffer from opioid addiction.

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Americans overwhelmingly see drug addiction as a problem in their local community, regardless of whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural area, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The public's concerns come amid steep increases in the number and rate of fatal drug overdoses across all three community types in recent years.

Nine-in-ten Americans who live in a rural area say drug addiction is either a major or minor problem in their community, as do 87% in urban and 86% in suburban areas, according to the survey of 6,251 adults, conducted Feb. 26-March 11. Substantial shares in each community type say addiction is a major problem, though people in urban and rural areas are more likely to say this than those in a suburban setting (50% and 46%, respectively, compared with 35%).

The problem of drug addiction has drawn widespread attention as the United States confronts an opioid epidemic. President Donald Trump last year declared the epidemic a national public health emergency, and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscore the deadly toll that opioids and other drugs have taken.

Nationally, more than 63,600 people died of a drug overdose in 2016, the most recent year for which full data are available. (Preliminary data suggest the 2017 number will be even higher.) That's an increase of 21% from the prior year and nearly double the 34,425 drug overdose deaths that occurred a decade earlier. Opioids - ranging from illegal street drugs like heroin to prescription painkillers - have played an especially lethal role: About two-thirds (66%) of the fatal overdoses in 2016 involved an opioid.

Pew Research Center used the Urban, suburban and rural counties all have experienced significant growth in deadly drug overdoses, according to the CDC. There were 19,172 fatal overdoses in urban counties in 2016, up 25% from the year before. Suburban counties experienced 36,424 such deaths, up 22%, while rural counties saw 8,036 deaths, up 9%. (This analysis uses the National Center for Health Statistics county classification scheme to assign each county to a community type. same approach in its analysis of demographic and economic trends in the new study about American community types. Also, it's important to point out that not all fatal overdoses are the result of drug addiction. The CDC notes that overdose deaths can have other causes, such as inadvertently taking the wrong drug.)

Suburban counties not only had the most overall drug overdose deaths in 2016, they also had the highest age-adjusted rate of deadly overdoses - a metric that controls for differences in population size and average age across the three community types. The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in suburban counties was 21.1 per 100,000 people in 2016, compared with 18.7 per 100,000 in rural counties and 18.5 per 100,000 in urban counties.
Overdose deaths rise sharply among black urban men
Whites, blacks and Hispanics all have experienced substantial increases in fatal drug overdose deaths in recent years, but there has been an especially large rise among blacks. The overdose death rate for black Americans rose 40% between 2015 and 2016, from 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people to 17.1 per 100,000. Among black men in urban counties, specifically, the fatality rate rose 50% - from 22.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015 to 34.0 per 100,000 a year later.

Despite the sharp year-over-year increase among blacks, whites continue to have a substantially higher overall drug overdose death rate (25.3 per 100,000) than both blacks (17.1 per 100,000) and Hispanics (9.5 per 100,000).

In the Center's new survey, about half of blacks (49%) say drug addiction is a major problem where they live, as do 45% of Hispanics and 40% of whites. Majorities of eight-in-ten or more across the three groups say this is at least a minor problem in their community.

Topics: Population Geography, Health, Social Values, Drugs, Demographics

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Many in US say drug addiction is a major problem in their community

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Americans overwhelmingly see drug addiction as a problem in their local community, regardless of whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural area, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The public's concerns come amid steep increases in the number and rate of fatal drug overdoses across all three community types in recent years.

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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Frequently Asked Questions - What is SAMHSA’s National Helpline?

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Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing drug addiction?

As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person's chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain-and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks.

Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools. When children advance from elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. When they enter high school, teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, drug use by older teens, and social activities where drugs are used. When individuals leave high school and live more independently, either in college or as an employed adult, they may find themselves exposed to drug use while separated from the protective structure provided by family and school.

A certain amount of risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development. The desire to try new things and become more independent is healthy, but it may also increase teens' tendencies to experiment with drugs. The parts of the brain that control judgment and decision-making do not fully develop until people are in their early or mid-20s. This limits a teen's ability to accurately assess the risks of drug experimentation and makes young people more vulnerable to peer pressure.

Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control.

Can research-based programs prevent drug addiction in youth?

Yes. The term research-based or evidence-based means that these programs have been designed based on current scientific evidence, thoroughly tested, and shown to produce positive results. Scientists have developed a broad range of programs that positively alter the balance between risk and protective factors for drug use in families, schools, and communities. Studies have shown that research-based programs, such as described in NIDA's Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide and Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, can significantly reduce early use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Also, while many social and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people perceive drug use as harmful, they often reduce their level of use.

How do research-based prevention programs work?

National drug use surveys indicate some children are using drugs by age 12 or 13. Prevention is the best strategy.

These prevention programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or reduce risk factors for drug use. The programs are designed for various ages and can be used in individual or group settings, such as the school and home. There are three types of programs:

Universal programs address risk and protective factors common to all children in a given setting, such as a school or community.

Selective programs are for groups of children and teens who have specific factors that put them at increased risk of drug use.

Indicated programs are designed for youth who have already started using drugs.

Young Brains Under Study

Using cutting-edge imaging technology, scientists from the NIDA's Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study will look at how childhood experiences, including use of any drugs, interact with each other and with a child's changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of adolescence that shape a person's future.

These brain images show the reward-related circuity in the cortical and subcortical regions of the brain that tend to be more active when a child is successful at achieving a reward. While all of the images show the regions of the brain that are active to reward, the regions in yellow and red are the most active.

Economics of Prevention

Evidence-based interventions for substance use can save society money in medical costs and help individuals remain productive members of society. Such programs can return anywhere from very little to $65 per every dollar invested in prevention.

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Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing drug addiction? As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person's chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain-and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks.

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This is the Hotline for addictions that are ongoing and have caused disaster or you are in a disaster and also addicted to drugs and you are stuck going into withdrawal.

Quote:  "it's not your Fault".

This is a government hotline and offers support for English and Spanish speakers.

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Addiction is more common than many realize. Millions of Americans from all walks of life struggle with drug and alcohol addiction every day.

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Addiction Treatments for all types of addictions.

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Addiction Treatments for all types of addictions.

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This website Talks about fixing addictions slowly and calling for help and gives help numbers based on the type of addiction that you are having.

There are Drugs called "Detox" that take out the pain and help the withdrawal go smoothly instead of getting really sick and possibly dying from the withdrawal which happens more than you would think.

people try to get off the drugs and they shoot themselves or they get so sick that their bodies give up and shutdown these symptoms can be fixed with a "Detox" drug.