Is drug use really worse today, or is it just a case of more awareness? (legal, heroin)

[Azureth]

We always hear about opioid and drug crisis today, but is it really worse than in the past? Correct me if I'm wrong, but back in say, the 80s and 90s weren't people still taking a crap ton of drugs and overdosing and dying left and right due to it like today?

[Shalhevet]

Yes, they were. Cocaine was so widely accepted it was almost legal, and Ecstasy WAS legal until (I think) 1989. People were taking prescription drugs like Valium and Xanax like they were vitamins, and it was almost expected that every Suburban Wife (tm) took "a little something" to help sleep. Drug (and alcohol) use/abuse was a "family secret", not brought up in polite company.

So yes, I think we have wider awareness now, less tolerance for drug dependency, and a greater understanding of the dangers.

[redguitar77111]

I think the FDA approved OxyContin prescriptions for nom-emergency, long-term use in 2001, and that that's what started the opioid epidemic.

[desertdetroiter]

Originally Posted by Azureth

We always hear about opioid and drug crisis today, but is it really worse than in the past? Correct me if I'm wrong, but back in say, the 80s and 90s weren't people still taking a crap ton of drugs and overdosing and dying left and right due to it like today?

Yeah, they were. And no one was downplaying by blaming it on enhanced awareness.

So why do so now? Because it’s opioids and not crack cocaine?

[Azureth]

Originally Posted by desertdetroiter

Yeah, they were. And no one was downplaying by blaming it on enhanced awareness.

So why do so now? Because it’s opioids and not crack cocaine?

Yeah, it's horrible.

[texan2yankee]

Opioids, fentanyl and heroin, can be deadly with one dose. People who take opioids are playing Russian roulette with their lives.

cocaine and marijuana use was more widespread decades ago, but far less deadly than opioids.

[The Dark Enlightenment]

Originally Posted by Azureth

We always hear about opioid and drug crisis today, but is it really worse than in the past? Correct me if I'm wrong, but back in say, the 80s and 90s weren't people still taking a crap ton of drugs and overdosing and dying left and right due to it like today?

Overdose deaths are 4 times what they were in the late '90s.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-to...se-death-rates

[thriftylefty]

Drugs were harder to get back then also. You had to know a guy who knew a guy. Its like Dr.'s are now in the game.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by redguitar77111

I think the FDA approved OxyContin prescriptions for nom-emergency, long-term use in 2001, and that that's what started the opioid epidemic.

Looks like 1995:

https://www.fda.gov/media/85029/download

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by The Dark Enlightenment

Overdose deaths are 4 times what they were in the late '90s.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-to...se-death-rates

Overdose deaths are mostly attributed to counterfeit Fentanyl and/ or other synthetic opioids.