Soma Times

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that 38 percent or about 92 million U.S. adults used prescription opioids in 2015.

"I don't understand anything," she said with decision, determined to preserve her incomprehension intact. "Nothing. Least of all," she continued in another tone "why you don't take soma when you have these dreadful ideas of yours. You'd forget all about them. And instead of feeling miserable, you'd be jolly. So jolly."

Update (August 9):  The rate of death from drug overdoses (largely opioids) reached a record 19.9 per 100,000 in the third quarter of 2016. But it's no national emergency.

Update (August 11):  Well, maybe it is.

Update (August 12):  The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions finds that 12.7 percent of American adults are alcoholic--an increase of 49 percent over ten years.

Update (December 21):  For the second consecutive year, life expectancy in the U.S. declined.

Drug overdoses killed 63,600 Americans in 2016, an increase of 21% over the previous year, researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics found.