The United States has by far the highest death rate from opioids of any country

mind & bodyanalysisOur World in Data1990s–present · United States

The United States has by far the highest death rate from opioids of any country

the gist

The United States has a far higher death rate from illicit drugs than any other country, and opioids account for much of the gap. Deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rose steeply in the 2010s and early 2020s, driven by illegal supply that is far more potent per dose than heroin. Prescription opioids started the wave in the 1990s and 2000s by fuelling dependence, and many users later switched to cheaper street drugs. Fentanyl is strong enough that tiny amounts can be lethal, which is why overdose numbers climbed so fast.

how it works

Opioids bind to receptors that control pain and breathing, and high doses slow breathing until it stops. Fentanyl is many times stronger than morphine, so small variations in dose or purity can cause fatal overdoses.

so what

Overdose deaths have become a leading cause of death for young adults in the US, making drug policy and treatment a central public health issue.

the bigger pattern

The US opioid crisis is often described in three waves: prescription opioids, then heroin, then synthetic opioids. Each shift followed changes in supply, as crackdowns on prescriptions pushed users toward cheaper and more dangerous alternatives.

fun fact

Morphine was first isolated from opium in 1804 by the German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner.

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data

source: Our World in Data ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗