PROFILE
FROM Zusha Elinson
Accidental Overdoses Increasing Among Baby Boomers Drug use and accidental overdoses are usually associated with the young and irresponsible. But not anymore. Baby boomers are now more likely to die of an accidental overdose than young people. Drug-related hospital stays and emergency room visits are also way up for people over the age of 50. Now, drug rehab programs are trying to figure out how they’re going to handle the almost 6 million boomers that will need treatment by 2020.
Heroin Makes a Comeback Heroin addiction wasn't just Philip Seymour Hoffman 's problem. It isn't just Hollywood's problem. It's America's problem. It's migrated from central cities to middle class suburbs to small towns in New England, the MidWest and other places where it's rarely been seen before. Cheaper, more potent supplies find a ready market of people already addicted to prescription pain pills that are harder to get than they used to be. Drug overdoses now kill more Americans than traffic accidents, gun homicides or suicides. How long has that been true? Why did it take a celebrity death to focus public attention? What needs to be done?
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