CDC reports 93,000 US Drug overdose deaths in 2020, a 30% one year increase

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Overdose deaths accounted for more deaths in 2020 than car crashes, gun violence, and HIV-AIDS combined.

The opioid epidemic has killed over half a million people in the US since 1999. 15 states have agreed to abandon their fight to block the bankruptcy plan of Purdue pharma, maker of Oxycotin. In exchange, Purdue will release 10s of millions of documents and pay a settlement expected to reach 4.5 billion dollars. The Sackler family, the owners of Purdue, will agree to cede ownership, but will not have to admit their responsibility in fueling the opioid epidemic and will also be protected from future lawsuits.