Opioid dependence has a tremendous negative impact on parents and children. It can destroy lives and break up families. When used correctly, drugs such as morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl provide the much needed pain relief to patients, especially after surgery or during treatment for cancer. The bad luck here is that opioids also have those qualities that can make people addictive and force them to overuse.
Opioids are more prevalent and readily available today because of the intense marketing campaigns by pharmaceutical companies. According to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 2 million Americans were dependent on or abused prescription opioids. The effects of opioids are seen in all areas of Europe, especially in the health sector.
Emergency room visits are mounting as they spend billions of dollars on medical care for those addicted to opioids. In addition, this crisis contributes to depression, anxiety, missed days of work or school, unemployment, dropout rates and lost productivity among those addicted to opioids.
Due to the huge number of pill dumping in West Virginia, investigation found a way to look upon this matter exactly one year ago. The main aim was to see the distribution practices of opioids in West Virginia along with the enforcement practices by DEA.
The investigation was done after they found out that nearly 21 million pills were being shipped over a 10-year period. How can a town with roughly 3000 people consume 21million pills in 10 years? Questions were raised.
Last year, the Bipartisan committee sent letters to various drug distributors like Cardinal-Health, DEA, and McKesson Corporation. A new distributor named Miami- Luken on September 2017 was found followed by the above mentioned top players. Finally, after one year, when the hearing was held on May 8, 2018, only one company among those 5 players accepted that they are responsible for the opioid crisis in West Virginia.
