Excerpt
The National Institute of Drug Abuse defines opioids as “a class of drugs that includes the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription.” The potency and availability of these substances, despite their high risk of addiction and overdose, has led to their widespread use both for medical treatment and as recreational drugs. The history of opioids begins with the first cultivation of the opium poppy in ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians referred to the poppy as “the joy plant.” As people learned of its power, demand for opium increased …
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Foreword
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Opioid Abuse and Sources of Supply
Scope of the Current Crisis
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Opioid Overdoses and the Federal Response
Actions by the National Institutes of Health
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Drug Use in Urban and Rural Areas
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statistics
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Combating the Opioid Epidemic
Recommendations of the President’s Commission
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Legislative Background on the Opioid Crisis
Recent Action in the Congress on the Federal Response
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Marijuana Law Enforcement
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Offshore Oil Drilling
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Trouble at the Census Bureau
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Net Neutrality Resolution
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Pro & Con
Is the Trump Administration Doing Enough to Combat the Opioid Epidemic?
