Opioid Epidemic around the world by Esmeralda Sebastian
In the U.S., more than 130 people die every day from an opioid overdose.
The United states was ranked the number one user of narcotic drugs in 2018, and the most used drugs are opioids. In the US, more than 130 people die every day from an opioid overdose. Opioids are the leading cause of drug abuse, which is then followed by heroin and crystal meth. What makes opioids unique is that they often are originally prescribed by doctors to treat health conditions.
What is the opioid epidemic?
Opiond abuse happens when people over or misuse the addictive opioids, a type of painkiller typically used after surgery or an injury. According to the World Health Organization in 2015, about 450,000 people died as a result of drug abuse. Other similar drugs are morphine, heroin, tramadol, fentanyl, oxycodone, and methadone. For example, Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more concentrated than morphine and it is by far more fatal, but it is still typically prescribed to patients with severe pain. For some people, taking opioids just once can create a strong desire in which they would feel the need to take more.
and methadone. For example, Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more concentrated than morphine, and it is by far more fatal. It is still typically prescribed to patients with severe pain. For some people, taking opioids just once can create a strong desire to take more.
How did it start?
In the late 1990s, Pharmaceutical companies told heathcare providers that opioid painkillers were not addictive. So doctors began to prescribe the medicine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This led to the misuse of the medication as it was later found to be quite addictive. More than 47,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose in 2017. In the US, deaths from drug overdose continue to increase.
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