Addiction, Pseudo-Addiction, Physical Dependence, and Tolerance

• HuffPost Staff. (2017). America On Opioids: The Many Faces Of The Country’s Addiction Crisis.

The article discusses the widespread impact of the opioid crisis across America, featuring personal stories from various regions. It highlights the devastating consequences of opioid addiction, from overcrowded morgues in St. Louis to the haunting experiences of first responders in West Virginia. The crisis, characterized by a drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths, has prompted some communities to implement life-saving measures like equipping emergency personnel with Narcan. Despite efforts to address the crisis, challenges remain, including limited access to treatment and underlying societal issues such as poverty and mental health disparities. The origins of the crisis are traced back to the 1990s when aggressive opioid marketing coincided with a movement to treat pain more compassionately, leading to widespread opioid prescriptions. However, as opioids became more prevalent, issues of addiction and misuse emerged, exacerbated by a lack of adequate mental health care. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addiction treatment, efforts to address the crisis must consider the unique challenges faced by different communities and demographics across the country

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/america-on-opioids-dispatches_us_59dbe9d9e4b0208970cf222a