The Daily Populous

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop in U.S. for First Time Since 1990

Total drug overdose deaths in America declined by around 5 percent last year, the first drop since 1990.

Drug overdose deaths, 1980 to 2018 Data through 2017 is based on final reported mortality totals.

Even with the shift, the number of overdose deaths in 2018, more than 68,000, still exceeded the nation’s peak annual deaths from car crashes, AIDS or guns.

A small portion of the increase in deaths attributable to a specific drug may be due to improved cause-of-death reporting.

Prescription painkillers were the main cause of overdose deaths until heroin, and then fentanyl, surpassed them over the last decade.

More drug users also have access to treatment and to naloxone, the overdose-reversing drug that has brought back thousands from the brink of death.

In Pennsylvania, where deaths had surged as fentanyl reached the drug supply, overdose deaths fell by an estimated 18 percent. »

The food you buy really is shrinking

Authored by bbc.com

According to the UK’s Office of National Statistics, 2,529 products on supermarket shelves decreased in size or weight in the five years between 2012 and 2017.

All around you, all the time, many consumer products are growing lighter, thinner, less substantial – all while maintaining the same price. »

Rand Paul blocks Senate from approving 9/11 victim compensation fund

Authored by thehill.com

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass an extension of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

But Paul objected, pointing to the country's growing debt and arguing that any new spending should be offset by cuts to other spending.

A spokesperson for Paul later told The Hill that Paul "is not blocking anything," adding that he is "simply seeking to pay for it.". »

Peter Thiel says Elizabeth Warren is ‘dangerous;’ Warren responds: ‘Good’ – TechCrunch

Authored by techcrunch.com

Senator Elizabeth Warren doesn’t seem too unhappy about being labeled “dangerous” by investor Peter Thiel .

“I’m most scared by Elizabeth Warren,” he said.

Warren tweeted a link to a Bloomberg story about Thiel’s remarks with a succinct response of her own: “Good.”. »

House votes to block Trump's Saudi arms sale

Authored by thehill.com

But the faceoff shows how far apart Congress and the White House have drifted on Saudi Arabia, and lawmakers are vowing not to let up on holding Riyadh accountable.

In June, the Senate voted 53-45 to block two of the emergency arms sales, and 51-45 to block the other 20.

The competing bill includes automatic sanctions and a temporary suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. »