United States of Junkieland: “Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with opioid-related deaths driving the much of the increase.”

“…opioid-related overdoses, both fatal and non, almost always involve at least one other drug.  Mixing drugs is generally much more dangerous than single-substance use, and certain combinations are particularly lethal. Taking opioids with alcohol, for instance, or benzodiazepines, dramatically increases the potential for fatal respiratory depression…”