Drug Overdose Kills More American Than Guns

[esmith]

For the first time ever more Americans died from opioid overdose than firearms.
Heroin Overdoses Kill More People Than HIV, Melanoma or Firearms
Yet there are those that say drug dealers are non-violent criminals.

So, what say you. What is the answer, if there is one?

 

[Altfish]

It's up to the gun owners, they must up the ante and kill more people.
Trump must relax gun laws making it compulsory to own one at least and carry them around loaded at all times, especial when in schools.

 

[buddhist]

For the first time ever more Americans died from opioid overdose than firearms.
Heroin Overdoses Kill More People Than HIV, Melanoma or Firearms
Yet there are those that say drug dealers are non-violent criminals.

So, what say you. What is the answer, if there is one?

Ban drugs and the drug makers (corporoate manufacturers), their dealers (pharmacists, etc.) and those who push them (physicians), and then lock them up!

 

[Nietzsche]

Ban drugs and the drug makers (corporoate manufacturers), their dealers (pharmacists, etc.) and those who push them (physicians), and then lock them up!

I'm sure that won't cause any negative repercussions. **** those of us who need that stuff not to blow our brains out, right?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Just a few questions:

If a LOT of people overdose on heroin is it the user's fault? The seller's fault? The grower/distributor's fault? the FDA's fault?

If a LOT of people overdose on legal, prescribed opioid medication is it the doctor's fault? The patient's fault? The pharmaceutical company's fault? The FDA's fault?

If a LOT of people die to gun violence, is it the gun seller's fault? The shooter's fault? The gun manufacturer's fault? The government gun administration's fault?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

For the first time ever more Americans died from opioid overdose than firearms.

Firearm homicides. Include firearm suicides and accidental shootings, and firearm deaths are still ridiculously larger.

Heroin Overdoses Kill More People Than HIV, Melanoma or Firearms
Yet there are those that say drug dealers are non-violent criminals.

So, what say you. What is the answer, if there is one?

I say we do what we can to reduce the number of overdose deaths, such as harm reduction. Do you agree?

 

[esmith]

I think some of you are missing the point.
And that point is why are we seeing a massive increase in deaths related to opioids?

 

[columbus]

I think some of you are missing the point.
And that point is why are we seeing a massive increase in deaths related to opioids?

Because, due to the combination of laws and human nature, some really ugly stuff is enormously profitable.
Tom

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think some of you are missing the point.
And that point is why are we seeing a massive increase in deaths related to opioids?

I assumed that your point was to minimize the impact of guns by pointing to a distraction.

As for why opioids are killing more people, it seems to me that a big part of it is the rise in popularity of fentanyl.

 

[esmith]

Firearm homicides. Include firearm suicides and accidental shootings, and firearm deaths are still ridiculously larger.

Did you even bother to read the article? In said homicides and the definition of homicides is:
the deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder.
Therefore your comment is "fake news", or to be more accurate a comment based on a false understand of a fact.

I say we do what we can to reduce the number of overdose deaths, such as harm reduction. Do you agree?

Now that I have chastised you. I'll try and get serious. What do you mean by "harm reduction" ?

 

[Acim]

Just a few questions:

If a LOT of people overdose on heroin is it the user's fault? The seller's fault? The grower/distributor's fault? the FDA's fault?

I'd go with FDA/government for this, for manifesting a black market.

If a LOT of people overdose on legal, prescribed opioid medication is it the doctor's fault? The patient's fault? The pharmaceutical company's fault? The FDA's fault?

I'd go with doctor/patient responsibility on this. Likely more so on the patient.

If a LOT of people die to gun violence, is it the gun seller's fault? The shooter's fault? The gun manufacturer's fault? The government gun administration's fault?

I'd go with people being in the wrong situation for this. Could be responsibility of the person that received the bullet into the body, thinking they could escalate matters, but then didn't realize this would be a possible scenario, thus put themselves into a wrong situation. But likely shared responsibility between shooter and person shot.

Obviously all of the questions are easier to respond to with a "depends on the circumstances," but I was aiming for what makes sense for responsibility.

 

[esmith]

I assumed that your point was to minimize the impact of guns by pointing to a distraction.

As for why opioids are killing more people, it seems to me that a big part of it is the rise in popularity of fentanyl.

Ah making an assumption without knowing the facts. I did not write the story, all I did was present it. I'm asking a serious question and you are trying to make it about my stance on firearms.

 

[Quetzal]

Did you even bother to read the article? In said homicides

Right, but your topic title didn't and neither did you. If you lack specifics you shouldn't be upset when people take creative liberties instead.

And that point is why are we seeing a massive increase in deaths related to opioids?

This is a much larger problem but part of it stems from the ease of access. They are becoming easier to get but I am not sure how.

 

[esmith]

Right, but your topic title didn't and neither did you. If you lack specifics you shouldn't be upset when people take creative liberties instead.

If you have a problem with the title of the post suggest you contact the author of the article. I didn't write it, all I did was transfer the concept of the title to the post title. If one would care to take the time and think and read the article before they speak maybe we wouldn't be having the conversation.

 

[columbus]

I assumed that your point was to minimize the impact of guns by pointing to a distraction.

As for why opioids are killing more people, it seems to me that a big part of it is the rise in popularity of fentanyl.

Here in southern Indiana this is a huge problem. Nearly as big as meth.
Tom

 

[Quetzal]

If you have a problem with the title of the post suggest you contact the author of the article. I didn't write it, all I did was transfer the concept of the title to the post title. If one would care to take the time and think and read the article before they speak maybe we wouldn't be having the conversation.

We wouldn't be having this discussion at all if you frame the position in a way that wasn't intentionally misleading. Not that it matters because it is beside the point.

At any rate, in Virginia we are having a big problem which this as well. I am not sure where they are getting them from, but it has gotten worse over the last year or two.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Did you even bother to read the article?

I did. I was referring to your post: the article said "firearm homicides"; in your post, you said "firearm deaths." Not the same thing.

Now that I have chastised you. I'll try and get serious.

What do you mean by "harm reduction" ?

One example: safe injection sites where heroin users can shoot up in a clean environment, using clean needles, with trained staff and supplies on hand in case of overdose.

Not only do these sites significantly reduce the number of overdose deaths, they provide a great opportunity to connect drug users with addiction recovery programs, other health care services, social services, etc.

What do you think?

 

[suncowiam]

Don't stop with drugs.

Doctors kill more than guns!

Doctors kill 2,450% more Americans than all gun-related deaths combined

but...

Doctors Kill More People Than Guns?

 

[esmith]

I did. I was referring to your post: the article said "firearm homicides"; in your post, you said "firearm deaths." Not the same thing.

Take it up with the author of the article. Or you can chose the option of; another "fake news story".
the title of the article was:
Heroin Overdoses Killed More People in US Than HIV, Melanoma or Firearms in 2015


and yes I admit I left "homicide" out of the follow on comments, but I did not do so for any explicit reason except laziness.

One example: safe injection sites where heroin users can shoot up in a clean environment, using clean needles, with trained staff and supplies on hand in case of overdose.

Not only do these sites significantly reduce the number of overdose deaths, they provide a great opportunity to connect drug users with addiction recovery programs, other health care services, social services, etc.

What do you think?

Disagree. I would be willing to allow my tax dollars to go for treatment vice continued use of drugs. The problem with treatment is the person has to realize they have a problem before they seek treatment. Whereas in your world you would be willing to waste lives by allowing them to continue the assault on their body.
Which do you go for, correcting the underlying personal problem or ignore the personal problem.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Disagree. I would be willing to allow my tax dollars to go for treatment vice continued use of drugs. The problem with treatment is the person has to realize they have a problem before they seek treatment. Whereas in your world you would be willing to waste lives by allowing them to continue the assault on their body.
Which do you go for, correcting the underlying personal problem or ignore the personal problem.

I think that rejecting harm reduction as a strategy ignores the personal problems. Safe injection sites work: they have a real, significant effect on overdose deaths. At the start of the thread, overdose deaths were your concern. Aren't they anymore?