Poverty, availability & pain cause the opioid crisis

Evidence suggests the opioid addiction crisis is the result of a perfect storm of poverty, trauma, availability and pain, both psychological and physical
 

Among men, non-Hispanic Whites and those younger than 45, economic downturns that substantially reduce house prices increase rates of opioid-related deaths
 

Researchers have also connected economic recessions and unemployment with rises in illegal drug use among adults

Job loss due to international trade is also positively associated with opioid overdose deaths. For each 1,000 people who lost their jobs due to international trade — commonly due to factory shutdowns — there was a 2.7% increase in opioid-related deaths
 

Aggressive marketing is another leading cause of the opioid crisis. In states where triplicate prescription programs were implemented, which led to less aggressive marketing by Purdue, OxyContin distribution rates between 1996 and 2017 were half that of states that did not have such programs

Read the full analysis by Dr. Mercola

 

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