Opiate related deaths in the US have been around 50,000+/yr.
I don't personally know anyone who has died from acetaminophen usage or even particularly injured. I personally know several people who had their lives nearly destroyed by opiate abuse, and a few others who have died. And it's not like I'm hanging out with junkies all the time.
As someone put it:
> Under the caveats of a competent physician and a completely med-compliant patient, opiates are perfectly safe. Those are enormous caveats though, given the history and prevalence of incompetent physicians and noncompliant patients (at least in the US).
Have you considered that your perception may have been distorted by irresponsible people? Please put that perception aside when comparing the side-effects of opioids and NSAIDs.
My bad. :P
But yeah, I agree. Eastern Europe is on the other spectrum with regarding to opiates. They do not even get prescribed codeine, regardless of severity of pain. You will get naproxen instead along with a possible stroke. :D
> context of society
I would hope so. According to my experiences here on HN, they (some people) just decided opiates are bad (because of "junkies") and that was it.
But yeah, people made opiates look terrible and it is a bummer, it is another case of "this is why we can't have nice things". Kratom is legal here (for now) and people with pain use it, but probably will be taken away from them sooner or later.
In any case, thanks for the reply, pleasantly surprising!