Drug overdose deaths soar in U.S.

Gee - wouldn't it be great if the US had money to deal with this? Oh well - priorities.

Just sad, something rotten there.

Problem is over prescription of Opoidsi, often unneeded or handing them out by bags. No wonder many US friends that are used to large doses find local prescriptions weak.

Very hard to overdose with local meds.

send soldiers to Afghanistan and see what happens when they come back.

Kids watch drug commercials on TV their whole life. What would one expect?

We are one of two countries in the world that allow prescription drug advertisements.

USA and New Zealand.

Cut the ads and the pharmaceutical company would squeal. Keep our kids alive or money.

Republicans will pick money every time.

The opioid crisis affects the entire country, but many of the states that voted for Trump have the worst problems.

Trumpcare to the rescue? I don't think so. Big pharma to help now that they've got tax relief? I don't think so. Any government programs to help out? I don't think so. The US is increasing its military funding, saying social service and health programs are not important enough to receive the support needed to meet the crisis.

Trump and the GOP will handle this their usual way: with prayers.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2017/10/30/trump-declaring-opioid-crisis-an-emergency-makes-57000-available/#287439507f33

Wait, no, this has got to be fake news. Trump declared the opioid abuse epidemic a "health emergency". That means the problem is solved, right?

...

Are you saying he also has to do something about it?

...

Oh.

Trump played lip service to the opioid epidemic because a large part of the problem stems from pharmaceutical companies making money.

Meanwhile, Trump is muzzling the CDC with words it cannot use....

It is a very state of affairs when gun violence and drugs alone result in 100,000 deaths/year. Totally avoidable.

It happens to mostly poor people and people at risk, why should the US govt give a damn?

Tragic.