What's in the news?

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/14/684695273/report-americans-are-now-more-likely-to-die-of-an-opioid-overdose-than-on-the-ro

Opioids have now overtaken vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death in USA.

Americans now have a 1 in 96 chance of dying from an opioid overdose, according to the council's analysis of 2017 data on accidental death. The probability of dying in a motor vehicle crash is 1 in 103.

[Beorning]

Well crap. He sounds like a good guy from the article, I hope he pulls through.

Unfortunately, he died a few hours ago.  :-[

This is truly heartbreaking...

[Beorning]

Another article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/world/europe/pawel-adamowicz-gdansk-mayor-dead.html

[Sara Nilsson]

https://theglowup.theroot.com/enough-rwanda-becomes-the-3rd-african-nation-to-ban-sk-1831743247

Rwanda just became the latest country to take aggressive action against the widespread practice of skin bleaching, now enforcing a ban on products that contain ingredients intended to lighten the skin—most commonly, hydroquinone.

There are health concerns about the products in the skin bleaching products, so it isn't just the rather obvious.. why the fuck would you do this? oh.. media has been pushing that lighter skin is better? Oh yeah that!

The main adverse effect of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening soaps and creams is kidney damage. Mercury in skin lightening products may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections. Other effects include anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy.

Hopefully along with education (to prevent black market use) and seizing the products it can be fixed.

[Vekseid]

Locking thread due to length (offset is evil) - feel free to make a new thread. : )