Here is the link to the article....

Two thing to note off the CDC website:

1) https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/prescribing.html
From 1999 to 2016, more than 200,000 people died in the United States from overdoses related to prescription opioids. Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids were five times higher in 2016 than in 1999.1--
Yes it is a problem.

2) https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/index.htm
Cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the United States each year Cigarette smoking is estimated to cause the following:
More than 480,000 deaths annually (including deaths from secondhand smoke)
278,544 deaths annually among men (including deaths from secondhand smoke)
201,773 deaths annually among women (including deaths from secondhand smoke)
Cigarette smoking causes premature death:
Life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers.
Quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90%.

Note that the opiod related deaths were over 17 years
Note that the smoking related deaths are ANNUALLY!!!

Why is it that Opioids are a "CRISIS" that requires the Government to crack down on EVERYONE that uses/needs them
and smoking is just a warning on the label??
The "CRISIS" is WAY overplayed in great part to the "MEDIA" and yet our elected officials cave to any partial truth in order to make headlines and LOOK proactive despite who their arbitrary decisions and laws truly hurt.

Sorry for the rant. I have been in steadily increasing chronic pain with all kinds of guessed diagnosis for the last 15 years and the ONLY thing that has helped are the opioids - but now I am told I cannot use them - and there are few if any affordable alternatives to try.

I currently have a Stimulator and a DRG stimulator implanted in my back, we've tried over 20 back injection, every medication you can think of (a stack of over 4" high of warning sheets) - even Medical Cannabis with no appreciable reduction in pain.

Not looking for sympathy. Just pissed.

Carl

@grandmar BTW... I know I posted the link to the article, but I wanted to thank you for bringing it to light as it was super informative.