Missouri Drug Deaths Increase As National Numbers Fall For The First Time In Decades

[Sherman A1]

This discussion thread was locked by Stuart G (a host of the Addiction & Recovery group).

The number of drug-related deaths increased by 16% last year, as fatal overdoses declined by an estimated 5.1% nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Missouri is one of 17 states that saw a rise in drug-related deaths last year. In 34 states, the number of deaths declined. Only Delaware had a higher increase over the previous year, at 16.7%.

Addiction treatment advocates point to Missouri’s decision to not expand Medicaid and the state’s belated response to treating the opioid overdose crisis, which according to the CDC killed an estimated 1,635 Missourians in 2018.

“We’re a conservative state that hasn’t invested heavily, because we think these are social issues,” said Dr. Will Ross, chairman of the St. Louis Joint Boards of Health and Hospitals. “We’re not really seeing this as a public health crisis until recently.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-drug-deaths-increase-national-numbers-fall-first-time-decades#stream/0

[Blues Heron]

1. we're a conservative state we're a little slow on the uptake

"We're not really seeing this as a public health crisis cuz lets face it - as conservatives, we're a little slow. " fixed your thought for you Doc. Wake up dude. Your people are dying from drug prohibition just like they did from bathtub gin in the 20's during alcohol prohibition. Don't force it underground, that's where you totally lose control and people start dying in droves from tainted, unpredictable drugs.

[Nay]

2. Let me refine his thought even more -- "We're not seeing this as a public

health care crisis because, deep down, we think disgusting addicts should just go somewhere and die."

There, fixed it!

[Blues Heron]

3. +1

[aliza20]

4. Lack of Narcan

Many conservative states like Missouri have less, if any, needle exchange programs and other harm reduction services where Narcan is given.