It seems you can't get through a day without hearing about a tragedy involving a drug overdose. It's getting especially bad in Maryland.
New data compiled from hundreds of health agencies has found that drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for all Americans under the age of 50.
Can you believe that?
The New York Times's best estimate is that overdose deaths rose 19 percent last year. The reason it's hard to get an accurate number is that drug deaths take a long time to certify. The final numbers won't be available until December, but they're NOT looking good.
The largest increases have been seen in Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania and Maine. Ohio is really struggling, and even filed a lawsuit recently accusing five drug companies of abetting the opioid epidemic. You have to see the full stats in the post below.
I know addiction is hard to deal with and is a disease. But, if you know someone you think is struggling, please do what you can to help them. They may not want to hear it, but a hard conversation is better than losing a loved one forever.