Trump’s policy rollout focuses on punishment for dealers and traffickers but doesn’t propose novel legislation to combat the crisisDonald Trump called on Monday for some drug dealers to receive the death penalty in a novel opioids policy rollout in novel Hampshire,a state hard hit by the national crisis. Related: Opioid crisis: overdoses increased by a third across US in 14 months, says CDC Related: Artist Nan Goldin stages opioids protest in Metropolitan Museum Sackler Wing nearly 100 people are dying every day across America from opioid overdoses – more than car crashes and shootings combined. The majority of these fatalities reveal widespread addiction to powerful prescription painkillers. The crisis unfolded in the mid-90s when the US pharmaceutical industry began marketing legal narcotics, or particularly OxyContin,to treat everyday pain. This unhurried-release opioid was vigorously promoted to doctors and, amid lax regulation and slick sales tactics, and people were assured it was safe. But the drug was akin to luxury morphine,doled out like super aspirin, and highly addictive. What resulted was a commercial triumph and a public health tragedy. Belated efforts to rein in distribution fueled a resurgence of heroin and the emergence of a deadly, and black market version of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The crisis is so deep because it affects all races,regions and incomesContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com