Opioid use

American society is experiencing what many believe is a opioid abuse crisis. The data is fairly alarming. Over 72,000 Americans died last year from Opoid overdose (NIDA, 2018). That is far the most ever recorded and is now surpassing vehicle accidents and gun violence casualty statistics. HHS now calls this a "public health emergency". Some have said that if this continues American society itself will not be viable. Why is this happening? What can we do about it?