The authors detail several of the factors that have contributed to the escalation of potent opioids into a public health crisis, culminating in tens of thousands of overdose deaths.
Among the factors investigated is the pervasive strategy used by commercial entities to market their products, including alcohol, tobacco, and the makers of opioid painkillers.
In addition, the paper delves into the sluggish response of policy makers and regulatory bodies in the face of the growing crisis as well as the distortion of scientific research and data by pharmaceutical companies to advance the sale of their products.
The article is part of a series of articles discussing drug problems and crises, "Changing Addiction Problems and Care Responses During and After a Major Crisis: Emergence of a ‘New Normal' ".
Citation:
McDonald R, Eide D, Skurtveit S, Clausen T. Pills and the damage done: the opioid epidemic as man-made crisis. Front Public Health. 2024 Jan 12;11:1241404. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1241404.