What is the American opioid crisis? You may have seen news reports of untimely, tragic deaths of young people with the term opioid “epidemic” or “crisis” attached to the headlines.
But what is the issue with opioids exactly, how have the social ills caused by illicit use and sale of opioids manifested on the streets and in the homes of everyday Americans, and what can be done about it?
In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of the opioid epidemic, the big players, a brief history, and how we can better address the problem moving forward.
What Are Opioids?
The term “opioid” is tossed around loosely, but many people may not have an accurate view of what the term means. Essentially, opioids are any substances that bind to opioid receptors in the body.
The majority of opioid receptors in humans are located in the nervous system. This includes both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Although opioids are strictly controlled to prevent abuse, they are nonetheless commonly used both medically and recreationally. The powerful pain-killing action of opioids in the body makes them an ideal medication for the temporary alleviation of pain in patients who have suffered catastrophic injuries or are recovering from surgery.
Unfortunately, due to the highly addictive nature of opioids, many patients who initially receive legitimate prescriptions for opiates develop physical dependencies, forcing them to turn to the black market for their supplies once their prescription runs out.
We’ll explore more of the common ways that people become addicted to opioids a little later.
“Opioid” vs. “Opiate”
Although the terms “opioid” and “opiate” are often used interchangeably, they actually have distinct definitions. Let’s distinguish the meanings.
“Opiate” is an older term that has historically been used in reference to substances originating from the opium plant such as heroin and morphine. The term has fallen out of favor in recent years in favor of “opioid.”
“Opioid” refers to any substance, sourced from the opium plant or produced synthetically, that produces a physiological effect through activity on the opioid receptors in the brain and elsewhere.
Therefore, “opioid” is essentially a catch-all term for similar types of drugs, including opiates in the definition.
For clarity’s sake, this article will focus on opioids to cover the full range of substances commonly used today.
The Origins of the Opioid Epidemic
Historically, America has had an ongoing and tumultuous relationship with the class of drugs known as opioids.
Morphine has been administered to soldiers on the front lines of American wars for centuries. A rash of opium dens sprang up in San Francisco area during the 19th century as a side-skirmish in the broader “Opium Wars” of the era.
The modern opioid epidemic can be traced back to the 1997 introduction of Oxycontin to the American market by Purdue Pharma. At the time, Purdue was one of the most widely respected and trusted pharmaceutical companies in the US.
Oxycontin was Purdue’s copyrighted version of oxycodone, one of the most powerful opioids on the market.
Money-hungry executives at Purdue took full advantage of the company’s solid reputation to dupe both medical providers and patients into indiscriminately writing and filling prescriptions. At the time, little was understood in the public health sphere about the huge dangers associated with careless opioid use.
The company intentionally misled the public about the true threat of its new Oxycontin product, prioritizing profits over lives. In the meantime, millions of patients became physically addicted. Many turned to cheap and more potent black market opioids like heroin after their addictions spiraled out of control.
Despite the known risks of opioid use, US medical providers nonetheless issued as many as 15 million prescriptions in 2017 alone.
Opioids: A Full-Blown Epidemic in Middle America
Beginning in the early 21st century, the media slowly began to pick up on the festering epidemic of opioids. What separated the opioids crisis from other drug epidemics was that it affected Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum – rich, middle-class, and poor.
Countless lives have been ruined since Oxycontin first whet the appetites of users in 1997. A thriving black market for heroin has flooded the streets of American neighborhoods. People battling opioid addictions often turn to heroin because it is much cheaper than OxyContin and, as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs that are typically obtained from pharmacies, users do not need a prescription to purchase heroin on the streets.
Fentanyl: The Hidden Menace in the Opioid Epidemic
Because black-market heroin is unregulated, the products sold by dealers are often adulterated with other substances, making it impossible for buyers to know what they are getting.
One of the most common additives to heroin is fentanyl, an ultra-strength opioid that is 100 times as potent as morphine. Fentanyl has been implicated in countless overdose deaths, including reportedly that of Michael Jackson.
In a race to create the most powerful product and hook users, many dealers add fentanyl to their products, often without the knowledge of buyers.
As a result, even experienced users who have developed a sense of their tolerance are subject to inadvertent overdose on fentanyl.
A Look at the Opioid Epidemic Moving Forward
Roughly 70,000 Americans die from overdose every year. 70% of overdose deaths are attribute to heroin.
As a nation, we have made progress. During the last year-long period measured, overdose deaths declined by 2.9%.
However, more work is needed to prevent further opioid addictions and to treat existing ones. Rehab centers across the country have oriented their facilities to treating opioid addiction.
Although the withdrawal process from opioids can be extremely difficult, recovery is possible.