statistics Archives - The Painful Truth

In its 2015 Report Overview, the Clinton Foundation calls prescription drug abuse (leading to overdose) an imminent public health threat that kills “more people than motor vehicle accidents.”

The CDC reports that, during 2014, a total of 47,055 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. Indeed, that is a large number of tragic deaths.

Is There More to This Problem Than Prescription Drugs?

But a closer look at that statistic reveals that these deaths were caused by all drugs, not just prescription drugs, which is what those who relay statistics to the public often imply. Furthermore, the number also includes overdoses of illicit drugs along with over-the-counter medications.

Patrick Clarke, of Rockville, is correct in his letter to the Washington Post‘s editor.

Heroin is not the same thing as prescription opioids.

There’s a huge difference. I’m not talking only about the pharmacology. I’m talking about the reasons why people use heroin and prescription opioids.

Heroin and Opioids Are Different

Heroin is most commonly used to treat mental pain, while prescription opioids are intended to treat physical pain.

Yes, there are people who use heroin for physical pain. But they are not doing so under any medical supervision, and many heroin users usually can sustain that use only for short periods of time. Then, ultimately, they overdose and die.

What Is the Truth About Overdose Deaths?

Is There More to This Problem Than Prescription Drugs?

This is How Heroin and Prescription Opioids Are Different

Heroin and Opioids Are Different