US opioid crisis claims more lives than breast cancer

26, Dec 2017

CNN has reported that a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics in the United States found that more than 63,600 people died of drug overdoses in 2016. The report said 42,249, or 66%, of these involved opioids. In contrast, 41,070 Americans die of breast cancer annually, according to CNN. CNN reports that opioids are a group of painkillers that includes fentanyl and heroin, which are illegal, as well as legal prescription medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone. Along with illegal synethic opioids such as fentanyl and tramadol, the report said heroin is also a concern; since 2014, the rate of fatal heroin overdoses has risen by an average of 19% annually.