cdc: overdose deaths from prescription opioids have quadrupuled in u.s.

[restorefreedom]

since the "prince od'd" threads have started, i just wanted to point out that the prescribing and overdose of pain killing drugs is becoming a serious health problem in this country.

by all accounts, prince was very anti drug and very devout. we don't know anything yet. but if the tmz report turns out to be true, he could be another victim of the prescription opioid epidemic killing many people.

lets not jump on the ugly "another music star on drugs" meme that the media will push for ratings

from cdc

Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999,1 and so have sales of these prescription drugs.2 From 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids.1

Opioid prescribing continues to fuel the epidemic. Today, at least half of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.1 In 2014, more than 14,000 people died from overdoses involving prescription opioids.


http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html

[TM99]

1. It is an extremely serious problem

and it is not about addiction per se.

If, and we won't know all the facts for awhile, this is the case with Prince, then using opioids while also having the flu would be a potentially deadly combination. Opioids depress respiration.

No matter how or why he died, it is still a tragedy. He was an inspiring musicians and very talented man.

[lancer78]

4. He didn't have the flu

He was having withdrawal symptoms that mimic flu symptons.

[TM99]

5. Has either story being confirmed?

I have read speculations but nothing definitive yet.

[lancer78]

6. As someone who uses opioids

I can almost guarantee that is what happened. He wasn't able to score on his last tour, and had to go to the hospital for "The Flu". When he got back home and his supplier, he was jonesing so hard, he couldn't wait to take any and took way too much.

I know how it is if you have been out for a few days. Thank god I don't have a big habit and pot suffices to keep the WD symptoms at bay.

[TM99]

7. That does sound plausible.

Do you have pain disorder? It is shitty that the thing that helps can also be so harmful.

[lancer78]

8. The thing with opioids

is that they are not harmful in their pure form. I have been on H for 3 years and suffer no negative health effects. Of course, I only use it for pain relief and my RLS, and I am at 200 mg (cut) a day.

It is morons either drinking while on opioids or trying to get high that are killing themselves.

It does suck to be physically dependent though.

[TM99]

10. I struggle with pain

but have not yet reached the point of using opioids. I manage it with marijuana, physical therapy including massage & acupuncture, and I am a long-time meditator. I know that I will eventually have to use them as my pain gets worse with each year.

It does suck!

[lancer78]

11. Marijuana is great

I just feel paranoid and pessimistic when I imbibe.

Oh, about the H, I do not inject, only snort. When I first needed it as doctors around here do not consider RLS a real disease that causes pain, I researched the methods used in Europe to control usage of H, and by using their methods, it has worked out great for me.

[TM99]

12. I know all to well how real RLS is.

When it is very bad, it is very difficult to sleep. That sleep deprivation then leads to worsening symptoms as well as more pain.

Thankfully I don't use much marijuana and I have never suffered ill effects. I don't do well with opioids so that is party of my avoidance. Codeine makes me hallucinate.

[angstlessk]

2. When I was a dippy hippy we took all the drugs out there

I just thank god cocaine was not available or oxycontin...I imbibed, but was never addicted

[Go Vols]

3. I can never remember a time when coke wasn't available

Also prevalent in the 60's was abuse of cocaine. Though not as popular as marijuana, "coke" had advantages for those who wanted to distort their perception of the world without the reddening of the eyes, coughing and general lethargy associated with "the killer weed".

Never addicted either,but it was my morning coffee for years.

I have no use for oxycodone.

[WinkyDink]

9. What are people in excruciating pain to do, just suffer in torment?

[djean111]

13. My son has excruciating back pain. Some ruptured discs.

Insurance, including Medicaid, would rather prescribe painkillers than grant more costly operations.

I told my doctor my toes felt funny. No diabetes or anything like that. Doctor prescribed painkillers. I threw them out. I told her that I did not have "pain", and anyway, wouldn't it be better to find the cause, instead of covering it up?