CDC director reveals that his son was nearly killed by cocaine with fentanyl

The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that his son had almost died of cocaine containing fentanyl

Dr. Robert Redfield Jr., who was appointed head of the best health agency public the country said the event is a big reason why the opioid epidemic is one of its priorities.

"For me, it's personal. I have almost lost one of my children, "he said in a speech to the National Association of County and City Health

at an annual conference in New Orleans on Thursday. The opioid epidemic was cited first, which he called: "the public health crisis of our time."

According to the public health records consulted by the Associated Press, its son, a 37-year-old musician, was charged with possession of drugs in Maryland in 2016.

It is unclear whether the charges were dropped or whether he served any sort of sentence, or whether or not Is around the overdose.

Redfield refused to talk more about his son but, in a statement, he said, "It is important for society to welcome and support families who are struggling to win the battle against drug addiction – because stigma is the enemy of public health. [19659002] Dr. Umair Shah, Head of the Houston County Health Department, Applauded the Franchise Moment of the CDC Director

"It was certainly an intimate moment that drew the attention of public health professionals" said Shah.

According to preliminary figures released by the CDC last week, about 70,000 Americans died of a drug overdose last year – an increase of 10% over the previous year .

Overdose deaths are now the leading cause of death among young Americans, causing more deaths in one year than every year due to HIV, gun violence or car accidents.

The majority involved opioids with increasing numbers attributed to fentanyl, a man-made opioid 100 times more potent than morphine

The drug is often sold in place of the heroin of high quality – "China White & # 39; – or added to drugs such as heroin and cocaine to boost the high.

A CDC report released in March found that cocaine deaths provided a huge increase in overdose deaths in the United States, with an increase of 52.4 percent in 2016 over the previous year

. Some believe that this is not intentional, while others say it is a movement led by the cartel leaders to get more people addicted to opioids because fentanyl is very addictive.

While cocaine is a stimulant, intended to energize users, fentanyl is a depressant, inducing feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Drug Threat Assessment 2017, the two are mixed to create a speedballing effect.

The user will feel the "high" of cocaine and fentanyl will relieve the "acute comedown".

According to an badysis published in February, the growing epidemic of opioids cost the United States more than $ 1 trillion from 2001 to 2017.

Around the same time, the US Senate has announced to have allocated $ 6 billion to the opioid epidemic

Last October, President Donald Trump declared that the opioid crisis was a public health emergency and that the federal government should spend a a record $ 4.6 billion this year to fight the opioid crisis.

The President unveiled a new opioid abuse plan to fight the epidemic, but he received little support from drug addicts and forensic experts because of the drug. emphasis on harsher sentences for drug-related offenses

. Fentanyl trafficking and other "deadly trace" opioids

The president also called for the death penalty for drug traffickers "where appropriate".

Two other stages of the plan include a goal of reducing by one-third the prescriptions over the next three years and stimulate treatment, even if the latter does not mention the details or the cost of the treatment. financial treatment.