Questionable New Responses to Opioid Addiction
It is no secret that the United States has a problem with opioids. These are drugs that come in many forms (OxyContin, Vicodin, morphine, fentanyl, and heroin are all classed as opioids) and are primarily used as painkillers. Historically, doctors found these drugs useful for helping cancer patients cope with the pain resulting from their illness. However, because of the association with opium dens and heroin, they were loath to prescribe opioids for most other conditions.
This started to change in the early 1990s as doctors began to see a potential for using opioids to treat chronic pain. Some doctors began to advocate for expanding their use, and this support was echoed by pharmaceutical companies that stood to earn billions...
