America Uses 30X More Opioids Than Is Medically Necessary For A Population Its Size

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

zerohedge
 Tyler Durden
Sun, 02/25/2018 - 15:55

[excerpt]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-25/america-uses-30x-more-opioids-medically-necessary-population-its-size

Perhaps America does not need Russia to "hack its democracy" and destroy "American exceptionalism", perhaps the US is perfectly capable of unleashing social, economic and political devastation within its border without anyone's help; perhaps the surge in mass shootings has little to do with gun availability (see homicides in Chicago and Baltimore where guns are banned), and everything to do with a creeping US social decay?

Read the following troubling observations from the latest Weekend Notes by One River CIO Eric Peters, and decide.



US life spans have declined for 2yrs, a feat without parallel in the developed world. Opioids are largely responsible.

An estimated 52k will die of overdoses in 2018, half a million Americans in the coming decade (about the same as WWI and WWII combined). We consume 99% of the world’s hydrocodone and 81% of its oxycodone.

We use an estimated 30x more opioids  than is medically necessary for a population our size. 75% of opioid addicts began with prescription painkillers given to them by a friend, family member, or dealer.

[Frank Cannon]

US life spans have declined for 2yrs, a feat without parallel in the developed world. Opioids are largely responsible.

Stupid argument. My lifespan hasn't decreased 2 years. A bunch of drug addicts OD'd.

BTW if on a long enough timeline everyone's hedge drops to zero, why should Zerohedge care about life expectancy?

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

US life spans have declined for 2yrs, a feat without parallel in the developed world. Opioids are largely responsible.

Stupid argument. My lifespan hasn't decreased 2 years. A bunch of drug addicts OD'd.

BTW if on a long enough timeline everyone's hedge drops to zero, why should Zerohedge care about life expectancy?

Frank, you're letting me down here.

I expect more pointed sarcasm and vitriol from you.

Come on there. Appearances must be maintained.

[Smokin Joe]

Blame painkillers, not Obamacare!

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Blame painkillers, not Obamacare!

You Betchum.

How Medicaid Funds And Fuels The Opioid Epidemic

http://www.freemarketcentral.com/post/12461/how-medicaid-funds-and-fuels-the-opioid-epidemic

One of the big switcheroos of O'care was to shovel off the real cost onto State Medicaid programs.

So, yeah, O'care is a Prime Culprit in this too on top of being an economy wrecker.