In 2016, a total of 42,249 people died from an opioid drug overdose in the United States. And while I can’t argue that the number is outrageous, when I read it the first time it had very little significance to me. But then I got to thinking. Back in 2016, I was a CNA and worked regularly with one of the nurses. He was a quirky, middle-aged guy with an expressive face and a good sense of humor. One Monday I came into work to hear that he had passed away over the weekend. The cause? Accidental heroin overdose. And just like that, he became one of the 42,249. Now when I see that number, it’s much more than a statistic. These are real people, and the opioid epidemic is a serious problem.
The Opioid Epidemic
Opioids are a classification of drugs including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain-relievers such as codeine, oxycodone, morphine, and many others. The opioid epidemic is only growing as time goes on. And if things continue at the speed they’re going it may soon be one of the leading causes of injury-related death in the United States. Luckily, as opioid addiction and overdose become more widespread, officials are taking serious action against it...
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