Drug Overdose Deaths - Are We Under-Counting?

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In 20 20, something like 93 thousand americans died a drug overdose of from 70 something the year before. I would say i would say we're under counting by perhaps anywhere between 20 to 30%. And one of the reasons for that is that we have across the country a very, very uneven am system for counting and for tabulating deaths. It could be even among counties with lots of money, yet non a large city county,. Even there, you find doctors, in the past anyway, have not really been able to get their heads together and find a common vocabulary, a common way of counting.

Author and journalist Sam Quinones talks about his book, The Least of Us, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Quinones focuses on the devastation caused by methamphetamine and fentanyl, the latest evolution of innovation in the supply of mind-altering drugs in the United States. The latest versions of meth, he argues, are more emotionally damaging than before and have played a central role in the expansion of the homeless in tent encampments in American cities. The conversation includes an exploration of the rising number of overdose deaths in the United States and what role community and other institutions might play in reducing the death toll.