The Opioid Crisis in the United States

The opioid crisis is a serious public health problem in the United States that is continuing to worsen. Opioid drugs are often prescribed for pain relief, but they can also be addictive and have dangerous side effects. In fact, opioids were involved in more deaths in 2017 than any other year on record.
The primary source of opioids available illegally has shifted over time from prescription pills to heroin and fentanyl, which are both far more potent and deadly. Fentanyl is likely responsible for an increase in overdose deaths due to its potency and ability to cause death within minutes from exposure.
As a result of the opioid crisis, many people are struggling with addiction or chronic pain syndrome (CPS). In some cases, these individuals may require treatment permanently rather than short-term fixes like medication therapy or surgery.