Now you will be able to get Narcan like you do aspirins because opioid overdoses are now normalized like headaches.
But if the FDA takes this step, it must be because of something important, right? But we have not seen much in the news, in fact it is barely mentioned.
80,411 deaths by opioids only in 2021.
Unfortunately, the FBI UCR only offers death by firearm type data till 2019 with 364 homicides. The CDC shows by that year, the deaths by opioid overdose hit 50,042 or 137 times more deaths than all rifles, Eeeevil AR 15s included.
Let’s double the number of murders by rifle to 728 for 2021 (we know it is BS, but just for giggles’ sake) and let’s compare with the 80,411 overdoses for 2021: 110 times more deaths by opioids.
But media attention is probably distributed the opposite: 110 times more deaths by fentanyl or heroin or oxy or any of that stuff being dealt in the streets than “assault weapons.” And you, the law-abiding gun owners gets more condemnation in Media (both Legacy and Social) for owning guns NEVER involved in crimes than dealers pushing death every frigging day.
Why? That is a question the Political Masters of the Media Sex Workers (You can’t use the word prostitutes anymore) have to answer. And answers or consequences will eventually be forthcoming.
UPDATE: As seen over at Wirecutter’s:
Drugs are a way for the government to control the population.
Guns are a tool the population uses to control the government.
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Nothing more to add.
If it makes you feel any better, “legal users” of opiods are treated as criminals more often than open or conceal carriers. *sigh* My sister has major pain due to a variety of health issues. We’ve got family that are addicted to illegal substances, and so she’s uber concerned that she’ll become addicted. She uses about 1/4 of what she ought to use. She’s honest about it, and about why, when talking to her doc. The result? She’s treated like she’s an opiod abuser, and they force her to fill out forms every month or so to make a “contract” that she won’t abuse her meds. After 5 years on this stuff, and making it last four times longer than it should, and white knuckling her way through days and nights, and they still treat her that way. Ugh.
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I saw this stuff go by this morning about Narcan. Now, don’t get me wrong, the med itself is good. I’m glad we have it. It’s like “stop the bleed” for the brain. Overdoses happen, and not always at the fault of the person taking the med (I’ve seen people who had meds slipped into their drink, and I’ve seen people who had no idea that two meds clashed). But I have problems with them being okay giving Narcan over the counter, but not birth control pills. BCPs have been used a LOT longer than Narcan, and there’s a zillion miles more data about their safety.
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What you don’t mention in the above, is that those overdoses don’t just hurt the druggie. Every person who has an accidental overdose because they were “playing stupid games, won stupid prizes” also has a partner, a kid, a parent, a friend who is damaged by watching their loved one go through it. Narcan or not, the harm is irreparable.
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All that said… I don’t think we should be restricting drug use. If someone *really* wants to drink themselves to death, they can do it. If they want to snort or shoot themselves up to death, they should be able to do it. Not my problem. It would weed out an awful lot of miscreants and addicts. Maybe I’m harsh here, but… there really isn’t any fixing people who’ve gotten that far along that Narcan is something they pick up at the pharmacy and keep on hand “just in case.”
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Freedom, not free-dumb.