Jan 13, 2019 09:15 PM
https://cosmosmagazine.com/society/drug-...omen-surge
EXCERPT: Drug overdose deaths among middle-aged American women have skyrocketed by an alarming 260%, according to figures released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [...] They discovered that in 1999 overdose deaths accounted for 6.7 people per 100,000 population. [...] By 2017, the figure had reached 24.3 – translating into 18,110 deaths over the year. This crude, overall measure, however, masked even more disturbing trends.
“The number and rate of deaths involving antidepressants, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, and synthetic opioids each increased during this period,” [...the researchers...] report. Age was found to be a critical factor in determining overdose risk across all categories of drugs. Over the period the death rate rose by 200% for women between 35 and 49, 350% for those aged 30 to 34, and 50 to 54, but a massive 500% for women aged between 55 and 64.
[...] The figures also underpinned claims that the US is experiencing a crisis in opioid use. Deaths from prescription opioids increased in every age category. [...] “Overdose deaths continue to be unacceptably high,” the researchers conclude, “and targeted efforts are needed to reduce the number of deaths in this evolving epidemic among middle-aged women.”
MORE: https://cosmosmagazine.com/society/drug-...omen-surge
EXCERPT: Drug overdose deaths among middle-aged American women have skyrocketed by an alarming 260%, according to figures released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [...] They discovered that in 1999 overdose deaths accounted for 6.7 people per 100,000 population. [...] By 2017, the figure had reached 24.3 – translating into 18,110 deaths over the year. This crude, overall measure, however, masked even more disturbing trends.
“The number and rate of deaths involving antidepressants, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, and synthetic opioids each increased during this period,” [...the researchers...] report. Age was found to be a critical factor in determining overdose risk across all categories of drugs. Over the period the death rate rose by 200% for women between 35 and 49, 350% for those aged 30 to 34, and 50 to 54, but a massive 500% for women aged between 55 and 64.
[...] The figures also underpinned claims that the US is experiencing a crisis in opioid use. Deaths from prescription opioids increased in every age category. [...] “Overdose deaths continue to be unacceptably high,” the researchers conclude, “and targeted efforts are needed to reduce the number of deaths in this evolving epidemic among middle-aged women.”
MORE: https://cosmosmagazine.com/society/drug-...omen-surge