Policy How Portugal eased its opioid epidemic, while U.S. drug deaths skyrocketed

[Burnt Offerings]

The contrast is striking. In the U.S., drug deaths are shatteringly common, killing roughly 112,000 people a year. In Portugal, weeks sometimes go by in the entire country without a single fatal overdose.

Portugal has roughly the same population as the state of New Jersey. But while New Jersey alone sees nearly 3,000 fatal drug overdoses a year, Portugal averages around 80.

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/24/1230188789/portugal-drug-overdose-opioid-treatment

 

[DeathIndustrial88]

Been an opioid user for 16+ years now & never once overdosed. I came close the first time I tried fentanyl, but thankfully by that point, I knew what to look out for and try it slowly. Fentanyl sucks & I can see how it would lead to overdose if some one was drunk or benzo-ed out & took it. Or even some one who accidentally took it, thinking it was another opioid.

Heroin is much safer & causes less physical damage in the long term than even alcohol.

The solution to America's opioid problem is simple, by legalization, regulation, education & rehabilitation (for those who decide they want to stop).
But instead our puritanical system would rather keep arresting people & letting people die instead.

And at the same time, they keep pumping out anti-opioid propaganda left & right in the US. They want the masses to think opioids are THE MOST dangerous drugs in the world & that they have no use whatsoever. I'm convinced they want to remove opioids altogether here.

It's really sad. Diacetylmorphine & friends are wonderful substances. They have risks just like any other drug, even less in some instances & depending on the drug being compared. But you can't have "freedom" without having a little risk.

I get called "junkie", "garbage human", etc.. by lots of people all over the internet whenever I try to bring this issue up. They have Americans completely radicalized to hate & judge anyone who uses an opioid.

We need change.... and fast. But I don't even know what the average person can do to change anything anymore. We're basically screaming into a void.