Fentanyl Named the Deadliest Drug in the U.S.

JACKSON, Mississippi. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fentanyl was responsible for 29% of all drug overdose deaths, reports. Drug overdoses have increasingly become one of the leading causes of the death in the U.S., competing with car accidents and falls as the leading killers when it comes to accidental death. Over prescription of opioids has been blamed for the increased number of heroin users. When some patients are no longer able to acquire opioids, some turn to heroin to get their fix. When fentanyl is mixed into these drugs on the street to make them more potent, deaths can occur.

As more and more people overdose, these overdoses are also more likely to go public. The New York Times reports that more overdoses are being posted on the internet, due to the ubiquity of cell phone cameras. These kinds of videos can create serious problems for those who suffered from the overdose. Not only is the individual struggling to overcome a drug addiction, but they now also need to face the struggle of having a reputation of having a drug addiction. Some victims of overdose find that when they search their names online, their overdose videos are the first things that pop up.

Anonymity can be protective for individuals struggling from drug addiction. It’s not called Alcoholics Anonymous for no reason, after all. Anonymity allows individuals to shed their old drug-addicted identities and move forward without stigma. The presence of these overdose videos online can create problems as these individuals become sober, look for work, or struggle to re-integrate into the community. Of course, public videos of people hitting rock bottom can also sometimes help victims struggling with addiction. The New York Times reports that rehabilitation centers sometimes reached out to these victims, offering them free spaces and assistance.

Alarmingly, some of the videos are released by police departments as a way to shame drug users. The Times reports that many addiction experts say that the videos are not helpful.

What options do victims of the opioid crisis have? Addiction treatment can be costly and sometimes difficult to access. Research-based therapies are few and far between and there are many therapies offered that aren’t research-based.

If you or a loved one is suffering from an opioid addiction due to over-prescription of painkillers or due to a medical error, you may have certain rights under the law. Some states and local authorities are fighting back against medical professionals who overprescribed these drugs. If you have questions about your rights when it comes to prescription error, consider speaking to the pharmacy error lawyers at the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm in Jackson, Mississippi. Our Firm can review your case, help you understand your options under the law, and fight to help you get the best possible settlement, if permitted. Visit us at the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm today to learn more.

The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation

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