The excessive consumption of drugs led to the death of some 50,000 Americans in 2016. This is according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highlighting some other striking statistics, the report notes that a good number of casualties of drug overdose are young people.

Some people may think that drug overdose and the problems it brings do not quite concern them. They probably think that because they do not do drugs, the overdose problem doesn’t really have anything to do with them. Such people however, fail to understand that if it does not affect them directly, the drug problem will affect them indirectly.

Drug overdose is generally associated with crime, violence and other delinquent activities. You never can tell when a person who is high on drugs will do something dangerous to you on the street. The drug overdose problem is a general problem. It could affect anyone at any moment. It is therefore important to do something to stop it, because not only does it kill its direct victims, it could also cause them to be a nuisance to the society.

A good number of US towns and cities are seeing an increase in the number of casualties as a result of drug overdose. Chicago and Baltimore have been noted to be hardest hit. Other localities are witnessing a considerable increase as well, and the situation is gradually getting to a level of grave concern.

Are you wondering why information on the disastrous effects of drug overdose is important to you? One of the main reasons is the fact that it helps you see the reality of the problem. It helps you understand just how serious the problem is, and helps you better understand how vulnerable you could be to the problem. Of course, this could make you start thinking of how you can get involved to solve the problem. After all, drug overdose will hit you indirectly if it doesn’t directly. And if it has not hit you yet, it probably has touched a loved one; a friend or a relative.

The drug overdose problem is real and it is enormous. Up to 50,000 people died in the US alone in 2016. If this many lives could perish in America with all the advancements it has made in the medical world, many more certainly died around the world. The problem is big enough and deserves some attention from every individual.