Strycker Loc: The middle of somewhere else.

I have to generally go with Smedley here. Their choice, their responsibility, their consequence. It is not what an addict does to themselves, including overdosing, that is the problem. I look at drug users like sky divers. When the parachute fails, the result is directly related to the risk taken. Shouldn't we be punishing people for the devastation they actually DO cause? Not the devastation they MIGHT cause.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Wow, broke back.. that is one more experience I truly hope to avoid.. and that one little side effect is nasty..

America 1 Loc: South Miami

A result of an open border:
Researchers found a staggering 110,236 people died in a single 12-month period, a stunning new record.
What to look for in 2023: Because drug death data is gathered slowly in the U.S., it won't be known for many months exactly how many people died from fatal overdoses in 2022, but the toll is expected to be grim.
When the history of America's long, devastating opioid crisis is finally written, 2022 may be remembered as both a low point and a turning point.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the avalanche of overdose deaths — driven largely by the spread of illicit f******l --may have crested in March.

Researchers found a staggering 110,236 people died in a single 12-month period, a stunning new record.

But there are signs help may finally be on the way.

The avalanche of drug deaths spurred a series of major reforms in 2022 to the way drug addiction is treated in the U.S., changes designed to reduce stigma and improve access to care.

2022 was also a year of corporate accountability.

Major drug companies, distributors, and pharmacy chains reached settlements of opioid lawsuits filed by state and local governments totaling more than $50 billion.

Experts say that money, paid out over the next two decades, will fund treatment programs and other services that are desperately needed, especially in poor rural towns and urban neighborhoods.

Here are the major developments in 2022 that made it a pivotal year for the overdose epidemic.

F******l got worse in 2022. Probably a lot worse.
Let's start with the grim news.

Street drugs in America got even more toxic in 2022 with the spread of the synthetic opioid f******l. Many of those dying are young, under the age of 40.

"They're zombifying people," said Marche Osborne who lives on the streets in Tacoma, Wash.

She's been addicted to opioids for 18 years and prefers heroin, but says f******l is now the only drug street dealers are offering.

"Anybody will do anything for a pill, it's ridiculous. They're dehumanizing people. It's not a good thing. It's not going to go anywhere good if [the spread of f******l] continues," Osborne told NPR.

Using data from 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in late 2022 that life expectancy in the U.S. has dropped to its lowest point in two decades, in part because of street drugs.
Look for f******l to continue to be a hot-button political issue.
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/31/1145797684/2022-was-a-deadly-but-hopeful-year-in-americas-opioid-crisis

nonalien1 Loc: Mojave Desert

Remember the crack cocaine epidemic 20 years ago? Sponsored by the CIA? Now the cartels have a drug to compete with them. Makes you wonder if they are working together

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

You nailed the T***h.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

The Left hand of L*****ts is actively trying to decriminalize illicit drugs. Consider the progress they've made already with Marijuana.

Smedley_buzkill

Constipated with a broken back is not for the faint of heart. Two surgeries, ongoing probs with sciatica. Physical therapy helped more than all the slicing, dicing and pills.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

That hurts just thinking about it.. glad the therapy helped.. and I very much hope you are recovered now days..

Pills are a question, told my doc that I did not like taking a bunch of pill.. He said clear as day.. We all are better the fewer pills we take.. surprised me at the time...

BIRDMAN

Me personally I think you should be taking a lot more pills

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

I'm actually fine with marijuana being legal...
I don't see it as being more harmful than alcohol...
And being able to monitor the quality and quantity is useful...
Decriminalizing drugs has already taken place in some parts of Canada... With horrid results...

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

I am determined not to do that.. I may simply chew on willow bark rather then take aspirins... LOL

BIRDMAN

Willow Bark is aspirin I think some N**i company made it. I think you should chew mushrooms. Bayer

Fit2BTied Loc: Texas

About half of those drug deaths were between the ages of 10-19. Those are kids. Impressionable, vulnerable kids. Leaving the border pretty wide open and allowing Mexican cartels to control towns along it is a failure to do one of the things the government is actually there for - protect the citizens of the U.S.. In 2021 there were 15% more drug ODs (108,000) than in 2020. In 2020 there were 30% more drug ODs than in 2019.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/health/drug-overdose-deaths-record-high-2021/index.html
By your standards, I suppose you'd say that this is proof that Biden's efforts are working, but I counter with he's not doing all that he can, especially appointing VP Harris as the "Border Czar". I do not discount that America's appetite for illicit drugs is a major problem - and those who interdict these drugs are doing the best they can with what they have in terms of resources and authority. But that does not mean that if it was actually a priority for the Biden administration, we couldn't be doing a much better job, at least keeping these drugs out of the hands of our children. A hundred billion for Ukraine trying to get WWIII started? Where the hell are our priorities??

federally indicted mattoid

Me too permafrost. No pain reliever has been manufactured better (for me) than endorphins and hard work.

Gets the kinks out and sh!t done.

Miss MN, but not enough to return in the winter ❄️ !

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

LOL, you are correct.. Bayer was the one... miracle drug I suppose..

Never done the mushroom thing..do not think I ever will.