“THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT has driven drug abuse and fatal overdoses to record highs in America unfolded in three distinct waves over the last two decades, tracing a chalk outline that likely marks a deadly new normal and won’t be erased anytime soon, a new U.S. News analysis shows.
Despite myriad attempts to combat the crisis at the federal, state and local levels — including a White House declaration of a public health emergency, followed by an administration pronouncement that America is “beginning to turn the tide” — the analysis shows the nation’s opioid death rate is five times higher than it was in 1999, and is likely to remain there or climb even higher in years to come.
The U.S. News analysis examines opioid death rates for nearly two decades, far longer than short-term data regularly cited by policymakers when assessing the epidemic and the effectiveness of the public health response. Viewing the data over time offers a clearer view of how the crisis has progressed, and what to expect as it continues to unfold.”
Read more at: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-01-28/opioid-crisis-points-to-deadly-new-normal-for-america
Source: USNews.com – January 28, 2019
