In 2015 an all-time record of 52,404 people died from drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eclipsing even gun deaths. 80% of these deaths were the result of misuse of opioids: heroin, Fentanyl, Oxycontin and Vicodin. Prescription opioids accounted for 17,536 of these deaths, a majority. Doctors are advised to prescribe in low doses, after non opioid alternatives have been tried. They shouldn’t prescribe opioids concurrently with anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs. But 36% of patients told a survey conducted by the Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation that their doctors had never mentioned alternatives, a similar percentage said no mention was made of addiction. 50% were taking both opioids and antidepressants simultaneously, with the agreement of their doctors. Many of the drugs are shared with others, and 34% said they often used opioids to get “high”, to relieve stress or to relax. This is a public health emergency.
According to what I heard during yesterday’s Senate hearings on the Rex Tillerson appointment to the State Department, Fentanyl comes illegally from China and issmuggled into the United States via Mexico.
What is it about our fellow citizens? Where is the outrage? They shrug at 30,000 gun deaths a year, and seem, in general, indifferent to the 52,000 people who are dying with these painkillers. I hesitate to bring religion into this, but in view of the the self-proclaimed religiosity of a majority of Americans, perhaps they could take a long, hard look at their moral compasses and get up in arms about this loss of life. Or is there something about modern christianity I don’t understand? Educate me, someone!
I’m not sure if most Americans are indifferent to opioid overdoses. It was certainly a big topic during the Democratic primary presidential debate in New Hampshire, where it is a particular problem. Nor do I think there is any evidence that religious Americans are less likely to be concerned about it than the irreligious. I think the problem lies with the pharmaceutical industry’s links to politicians. As long as the gravy train of donations continues, politicians have a financial incentive no to deal with the problem, as reducing opioid usable would damage corporate profits. I’m sceptical of people who frame this issue as a moral problem. Its very easy to quote religious texts to tell people not to do drugs. Its also very easy to penalise people for making bad decisions. Reforming the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries- the root of the problem. That’s more difficult, but with political will and expertise, it can and must be done.
To make matters worse GOP congressmen want to repeal Obamacare as soon as Trump is inaugurated. Without an adequate replacement, this will result in millions of people losing healthcare coverage. How are people meant to get treatment for an opioid addiction problem if they can’t see a doctor? It won’t be sufficient to deal with this specific problem, but I’m firmly in favour of a public insurance option for Americans. It would easily be done by allowing people who aren’t into seniors to opt into Medicare in exchange for paying a higher rate of Medicare payroll tax. Of course, if you’re happy with your employer-provided plan or existing coverage, you should be allowed to keep it. But many people aren’t. They need an alternative.