The Opiod Epidemic: A Primer
The U.S. Opioid Epidemic is threatening the national health and economic prosperity of the United States. Nearly 800 people die / week from opioid related overdoses and millions of Americans suffer from opiod addictions. Experts posit that the crisis began with doctors over prescribing legal pain medications such as oxycodone, but now think that the influx of cheap drugs like fentanyl from foreign cartels exacerbated the problem. Opioids can be divided into two main categories those that are legally manufactured and those that are illicit narcotics. Some opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine are used to treat pain and are commonly prescribed Herion has consistently been the United States' most popular illicit narcotic. However, it wasn't until cheap drugs and an increase in production made them universally available. Since 1999, the amount of opioid related deaths increased five-fold This epidemic contributed to the U.S.'s decl...