STATISTICS & TRENDS

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Opioid Epidemic Forecast: Half a Million Americans could be Killed in the Next 10 Years

A new article released by STAT shines a harsh light on the reality of the opioid epidemic in America. Drug overdoses already kill more Americans under age 50 than anything else. There are now nearly 100 deaths each day from opioids—that number could...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Ohio’s Deaths from Opioids Soar Towards 10,000

Imagine a horrendous hurricane that wipes out an entire town. Or a disastrous earthquake that levels most the buildings in a city. Those are the kind of events you might associate with a loss of life totaling 10,000. But estimates indicate that Ohio, all...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

The Tragic and Unnecessary Loss of Carrie Fisher

Carrie was a hero to millions of people since her appearance in the first Star Wars movie in 1977. Unfortunately, she was almost as well known for her drug and mental health problems as she was for her famous performance as Princess Leia.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

In Fatal Traffic Accidents, More Drivers Are Drugged Than Drunk

A new report reveals that for the first time, a higher number of drivers who recently died in car crashes were drugged than were drunk. Forty-three percent of these drivers had used a legal or illegal drug compared to 37% who exceeded the legal limit for...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Are American Doctors Still Overprescribing?

In April 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsored a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to collect unused prescriptions across the country. The staggering quantities of drugs collected seems like conclusive proof that doctors must...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Penn State: Alcoholic Fraternity Hazing Destroys Dozens of Lives in One Night

It’s no secret that fraternity or sorority initiation events sometimes end in some young adults drinking to drunkenness or even blackout. At Penn State, one of these nights destroyed the lives of many young men who were present, all of their families...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

In Whiteclay, Nebraska, A Sigh of Relief as Beer Stores Close

Four liquor stores in Whiteclay, NE (population 14) have been selling 4 million beers each year. The most severe effects have been felt on the adjacent Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where possession of alcohol is illegal. But now, those stores are shuttered.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

How Much Are YOU Paying for the Drug and Alcohol Abuse of Americans?

It’s very likely the majority of Americans think drug abuse and addiction are problems that don’t directly affect them. Unless it’s present in their household, they’re free of any effects, right? Actually, no.…

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Florida Grabs Two Slots in a “Top 15” List – and Why that’s Really Bad News

It seems like it’d always be desirable for a city to show up in a list of the Top Ten or Twenty for some particular quality. Florida is no newcomer to these honors. But this time, Florida is not exactly honored by taking two places on a new “Top 15”...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Can You Listen to this 911 Call About an Overdose without Weeping?

In Cincinnati, the 911 emergency system recorded a terrifying event – a young girl calling for help as her parents overdosed in the front seat of their car. The operator tried to calm her terror as emergency help was sent her way.…

STATISTICS & TRENDS

China Bans Four Kinds of Fentanyl —Why Won’t This Help the U.S.?

After months of dedicated work by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chinese government has banned the production of four highly dangerous synthetic opioids. Learn why this may not make things much better in the U.S.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Big Pharma Seeks Expansion Following the Model of Illicit Drug Dealers

In Part I of this series, we looked at the emergence of an opioid epidemic in the U.S. that was fueled by the overprescribing of painkillers by doctors in every corner of the country. Now it looks like this problem may soon take on global proportions.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Is America’s Opioid Epidemic Going International?

Over the last several years, hundreds of thousands of American families have suffered the heartbreak of losing someone they love to a drug overdose. Now, it appears that this scourge may begin to wreak a similar havoc in other countries as pharmaceutical...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Suboxone: Salvation for the Addicted or Seriously Flawed Solution?

Behind the headlines about the opioid addiction epidemic, a debate has long been raging about the advisability of prescribing Suboxone for those in recovery. The desperation of this problem demands a solution. But not everyone agrees that the best solution...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Opioids Get the Headlines But Cocaine Still Kills Thousands Each Year

Anyone involved in recovery from drug addiction knows that drugs in the opioid category are taking more lives than any other. What is not making headlines at this point is that cocaine is still taking thousands of lives each year.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Super Bowl 2017 Offers Drug Prevention Group a Chance to Save Young Lives

Every year, Superbowl advertising minutes offer an opportunity to reach more than one hundred million people in a flash. This year, viewers were served two public service announcements revealing the dangers of leaving prescription drugs unlocked, where...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Unique Maps Help Us Grasp the Extent of Losses from Addiction

We all see news headlines or articles on the internet about a local person lost to an overdose or a celebrity going to rehab. But it can be hard to get a grip on what’s really happening across this country. A young man who lost his bother to drugs set...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

2016: The Year in Review

When your work is helping the addicted recover their sobriety, today’s newspapers and magazines don’t bring you a lot of good news. There are warnings of drugs currently taking lives, drug use trends to tell us where we need improvement. Here’s what...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What Stars Did We Lose in 2016 to Drugs or Alcohol?

It seemed like 2016 was stealing away some of our favorite cultural icons – many, far too young. Was their current or past drug and alcohol abuse responsible for shortening their lives?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

$44 Million Penalty Suggests Pharma Distributors Complicit in Overprescribing

In New York City, Queens pharmaceutical distributor and its parent company. Kinray, LLC will be paying a $10 million penalty and parent company Cardinal will be yielding an additional $34 million to the DEA. Their offenses? Failing to report drugstores...