Life Expectancy in the USA (Bad and Getting Worse)

[jjrap1]

My guess is that a rather small percentage of the ODs can be chalked up to experimentation, but mostly it’s because for a huge percentage of the population life sucks in the USA, and drug use is a escape from malaise and sorrow engendered in and by the difficulty of life in this society. I see it daily in the major US city I live in.

[Beth]

The same reason people still drink and drive. It won’t happen to me.

[cl-user]

@CronosTempi

But the first and most fundamental question is: why do people take those drugs if the danger of ODing is so great?

Because Purdue Pharma marketed their opioids as non addictive pain killers so a lot of people got it from their doctors for pain treatment and got hooked.

From BBC: Why opioids are such an American problem

American doctors prescribe - a lot

Unlike most European countries, the US does not have universal healthcare paid for by taxes.
Instead, Americans must get their own insurance - usually via an employer or the government.

“Most insurance, especially for poor people, won’t pay for anything but a pill,” says Professor Judith Feinberg from the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

"Say you have a patient that’s 45 years old. They have lower back pain, you examine them, they have a muscle spasm.

"Really the best thing is physical therapy, but no one will pay for that. So doctors get very ready to pull out the prescription pad.

“Even if the insurance covers physical therapy, you probably need prior authorisation (from the insurer) - which is a lot of time and paperwork.”

The CDC says opioid prescriptions have fallen by 18% from their peak in 2010. But the total is still three times higher than in 1999.

[DeStrider]

Honestly, I am assuming a large proportion of the ODs could be due to fentanyl. It’s amazingly addictive, deadly and drug dealers usually lace normal drugs with it to increase sales. Fentanyl is horrible.

[RapAdmin]

Infographic: How Life Expectancy Has Changed Over the Decades

[relaxedmeatball]

@CronosTempi

Why are people taking those drugs, if the danger of ODing is so great? There must be a reason(s). If you want to prevent those deaths, what do you do? What is the approach in formulating a policy to decrease those deaths?

It seems to be a fairly “US centric” problem. Hong Kong, where DeStrider is from, and much of East Asian, seemingly doesn’t have many overdoses. I would guess that’s from a policy of extremely strict drug laws which are very strongly enforced at every level. Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea - all have extremely harsh penalties for drug offences and very tight border controls.

And culturally, I reckon the population is much less open minded to using drugs in the first place. There is strong stigmatism against drug users. The societies in general are less “me me me”. You don’t have rappers and celebrities etc on TV boasting and glamourising drug use. And I have to wonder whether population education levels have something to do with it, but that’s pure speculation.

@jjrap1

but mostly it’s because for a huge percentage of the population life sucks in the USA

I do agree, but I don’t think that’s US-specific. Millions of people across Asian countries are packed into tiny apartments, with crushing working hours, low salaries and almost no time off. Plus a shitload of cultural and societal pressures.

[DeStrider]

Yes, drug offences are very serious in Hong Kong. It may be even worse in places like Singapore.

Any person who has in his possession; or smokes, inhales, ingest or injects a dangerous drug, shall be liable upon conviction to a fine USD$ 125,000 and imprisonment for 7 years.

That’s enough to deter me, not that I’d ever want to touch the stuff. The prisons here are full of unwitting mules and drug traffickers.

In 2023, there were 105,007 drug overdose deaths in the United States, a nearly 3% decline from 2022.

In 2021, there were 36 drug overdose and poisonings in Hong Kong

Since the USA is 50X larger, adjuster per capita, that would be about 1,800 ODs in Hong Kong. However, that figure also includes all other poisonings including suicides (drinking floor cleaner is a popular suicide method and would be counted). Either way, it’s a big difference!

[RapamycinCurious]

CDC: Life Expectancy Increased in Most States in 2022

Life Expectancy Increased in Most States in 2022 | Blogs | CDC

Their latest report. However, as their 2019 visualization shows, life expectancy still hadn’t caught up to pre-pandemic levels:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data-visualization/state-life-expectancy/index_2019.htm

[Steve_Combi]

@adssx

Is there an opioid crisis in Canada as well?

Yes there is.