According to the CDC, drug overdoses increased 5% from 2018 to 2019 and has quadrupled since 1999. In 2019 there were 70,630 deaths and over 70% were attributed to opioid use. From 2018 to 2019 there was a significant amount of increase of opioid involved deaths. Opioid death rates increased by over 6%
It has become so easy to go to the doctor and get a prescription to reduce pain. It is a quick fix that can lead to long term dependency on drugs. Especially if the cause of the pain is not found and handled. Pain happens, a pill is taken and the addiction and dependency becomes prolonged.
After being prescribed opioids, there comes a time when people can't get a refill. If they are addicted, heroin becomes the next way to deal with pain or feed the addiction.
Fentanyl has become easily made and easily purchased. It is often mixed with heroin, pills and cocaine.
This rise in opioid overdose deaths can be outlined in three distinct waves.
Prescription drugs are now the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. Heart disease and cancer are first and second. 50% of the people who die from drugs have taken them correctly. The other 50% die because of errors like the drugs are dosed too high or using the drugs even though there are contraindications of doing so.
Drug companies want to sell drugs even though in most cases, these drugs are for a quick fix. Drugs always have a side effect. Sometimes drugs are taken not for what the drug is made for but for the side effect it gives which is not always a sure thing and most doctors can not manage the long list of warnings, precautions, side effects and contraindications for each drug.
Reasons for drug deaths:
1. Bad drug regulations
2. Skewed scientific evidence in order to get drug approved
3. Drug marketing to doctors which increases sales of each drug
4. Misinformed drug marketing
We hear about homicides on the news daily but the data on drug deaths is not talked about even though more than 4 times as many people died from overdose than murder in the first month of 2021.
The drugs and overdose rates in the United States are:
1. Opioids - 67.8%
2. Cocaine - 21.2%
3. Psychostimulants - 20.6%
4. Methadone - 4.03
Opioids kill 136 American per day. That doesn't seem like a lot based on the population but that total is over 100,000 people.
Drugs are addictive, cause stress on your organs and interfere with the body's ability to function. There are times when we need to take drugs but we are not meant to live on them. Please be careful with prescriptions and understand that drugs have more of an effect than just what they are made to handle. The body changes and has to adapt to this new interaction that effects the neurons, organs and enzymes in the body.
My advice, try natural methods as much as possible. Normally, they are not addictive and have less dramatic effects on the body.
Chiropractic is one of the most holistic and natural remedies for pain, imbalances of the body. It allows your body to heal itself and re-regulate. Dr. Amie Gregory in the mission district of San Francisco is a holistic practitioner who helps and guides patients to better health and vitality. Contact us today!
References: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20drug%20overdose,rates%20increased%20by%20over%206%25.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25355584/
https://drugabusestatistics.org/drug-overdose-deaths/
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