Drug overdose deaths in 2016 most likely exceeded 59,000, the largest annual jump ever recorded in the United States.
The death count is the latest consequence of an escalating public health crisis: opioid addiction, now made more deadly by an influx of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and similar drugs. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under 50.
Although the data is preliminary, the Times’s best estimate is that deaths rose 19 percent over the 52,404 recorded in 2015. And all evidence suggests the problem has continued to worsen in 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/05/upshot/opioid-epidemic-drug-overdose-deaths-are-rising-faster-than-ever.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/08/heroin-deaths-surpass-gun-homicides-for-the-first-time-cdc-data-show/?utm_term=.546cea1a2617
Drug Overdose
Estimate for drug overdose deaths in US in 2016: 59,000
Estimate for drug overdose deaths in US in 2017: more than 70,000 (if recent annual rate of growth continues unchecked)
Annual US Car Crashes
Peak deaths in US from car crashes (in 1972): 55,000
Estimate for car crash deaths in US in 2016: 40,000 (The highest figure in 9 years, due to texting while driving)
Annual US Gun Deaths
Peak deaths in US from guns (in 1993): 39,000
Estimate for gun deaths in US in 2016: 33,000 (Almost 2/3 are suicide, almost 1/3 are homicide, remainder classified as accidental)
Opioid Addiction
I've found the following charity that is focused on addressing this public policy crisis. I believe we have an obligation to take action on this public policy issue using private charities, as opposed to just waiting for government to take action.
Shatterproof. Stronger than Addiction
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation that addiction causes families.
https://www.shatterproof.org/
Proposal to the Steemit community on action we can take:
- I'll donate from my personal funds with a 3X match against whatever the final payout value is for this post
- This total will then get a further 1X match through an employer match I have access to
- Example A: If this post pays out at $100, I'll add $300 of my own funds to make the total $400. Total donation to Shatterproof will then be $800 after the 1:1 employer match.
- Example B: If this post pays out at $1,000, I'll add $3,000 of my own funds to make the total $4,000. Total donation to Shatterproof will then be $8,000 after the 1:1 employer match.
These donations will be possible due to charitable nature of the Steemit community, my personal 3X matching contribution, and the employer 1:1 match.
I'll make the donation to Shatterproof within one week of this post paying out on Steemit. I'll post copies of the receipts for the donation on Steemit.
If you think this is a worthwhile cause, you can take simple actions to help.
Please upvote at 100% and resteem.
Thank you in advance if you choose to participate.
STEEM On!!
Dave B
Source image from Washington Post, initial source text from NYTimes