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Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

bmj.com

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Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#2
I read through the methods, and didn't see any attempt to correct for changes in the age composition of the population ranges. From my minimal familiarity with it, it doesn't sound like it invalidates the results, but it does tend to complicate them.

http://andrewgelman.com/2015/11/06/correcting-rising-morbidi...

http://andrewgelman.com/2015/11/06/age-adjustment-mortality-...

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#3
"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems."

Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#4

I read through the methods, and didn't see any attempt to correct for changes in the age composition of the population ranges. From my minimal familiarity with it, it doesn't sound like it invalidates the results, but it does tend to complicate them. http://andrewgelman.com/2015/11/06/correcting-rising-morbidi... http://andrewgelman.com/2015/11/06/age-adjustment-mortality-...

Did you read the methods, though? This is the first sentence:

Methods We examined age adjusted mortality rates based on the 2000 US standard population for 1999-2016 using the Underlying Cause of Death Detailed Mortality database in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) platform.27 The agency’s methods for age adjustment are described elsewhere.

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#5

"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems." Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Why not both?

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#6

"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems." Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Addiction progresses like a disease, but begins as a moral failing. If I were to begin using heroin today, it would be by conscious choice, not because there's something wrong with my body.

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#7
post #6

"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems." Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Addiction progresses like a disease, but begins as a moral failing. If I were to begin using heroin today, it would be by conscious choice, not because there's something wrong with my body.

Except for 12 year old Travis whose mom introduced him to heroin and now he can't stop. Travis has morally failed because he is doing drugs and it's all his fault.

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#8
post #6

"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems." Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Addiction progresses like a disease, but begins as a moral failing. If I were to begin using heroin today, it would be by conscious choice, not because there's something wrong with my body.

Could it be, at the onset? The decision to take drugs? Where one is suffering from depression or some form of chemical imbalance? Or, could one be prone to risk taking behavior? Is the precursor to risk taking behavior, biochemical?

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#9
post #6

"Drug overdoses were the leading cause of increased mortality in midlife in each population, but mortality also increased for alcohol related conditions, suicides, and organ diseases involving multiple body systems." Perhaps we can start treating addiction like a disease and not a moral failing?

Addiction progresses like a disease, but begins as a moral failing. If I were to begin using heroin today, it would be by conscious choice, not because there's something wrong with my body.

What if you were injured on the job, were prescribed opioids by your trusted physician, became addicted, had the prescription ended, then what? If you've not dealt with opioid withdrawal, you may easily say you'll stop there. However, many cannot, and move into black-market pills ($$), then into heroin ($), and that's where the fentanyl comes in with numerous added deaths in recent years.

Re: Changes in midlife death rates across racial and ethnic groups in the US

#10
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Addiction progresses like a disease, but begins as a moral failing. If I were to begin using heroin today, it would be by conscious choice, not because there's something wrong with my body.

Could it be, at the onset? The decision to take drugs? Where one is suffering from depression or some form of chemical imbalance? Or, could one be prone to risk taking behavior? Is the precursor to risk taking behavior, biochemical?

So we are not responsible for any of our decisions? We’re just slaves to our neurobiology?
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