It is estimated that by 1890, several hundred thousand Americans—a majority of them Civil War veterans—were addicted to opioids. Historian Jonathan S. Jones says “It was epidemic both in scale, just the sheer number of people who got addicted. It becomes a really major public health, and also kind of a cultural, crisis.”

While Jones is describing a crisis that happened over 130 years ago, much of his statements about the history of opioid addiction ring as true in the 2020s as they did in the 1890s.

“We, the jury, find the defendants…guilty.” In the first trial of its kind, a jury has found three major pharmacies guilty for their roles in fueling the opioid epidemic. Pharmacies Take Their Chances With a Jury The case is just one among more than 3,000 opioid lawsuits that have been filed across the country against …

I was watching a crime drama on TV the other day. The cops were able to identify a drug user because she kept sniffing when they interviewed her. But then I did a little digging. And as it turns out, drug use causes far more damage than a case of the sniffles. It can really …

69,710. That’s the number of people who died from opioid overdose in the U.S. in 2020. That’s up nearly 30 percent from the year before. And many expect those numbers to continue rising. And why wouldn’t they? As we see more and more drugs laced with deadly doses of fentanyl, overdoses are becoming more and …

Getting help for a loved one who’s struggling with addiction isn’t easy. You may be worried about their alcohol or drug use — or suffering from the consequences of their use — but you’re unsure what to do next. This is where an intervention can be helpful, but here’s the question: Do you need professional …

Setting up an intervention for a loved one is no easy task. You may be incredibly worried about their well-being and coming from a place of love, while also questioning if you’re making the right choice. You may also be asking yourself if an intervention might push them away from seeking treatment and deeper into …

The Attorney General in Alabama has designated a good chunk of its opioid crisis settlement money go towards an impressive cause.  In a series of attempts to right the wrongs that opioids caused the state, Alabama will allocate $1.5 million of their McKinsey & Company settlement to the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention. …

A recent Biden administration proposal to crack down on opioids is causing quite a stir among criminal and civil justice reform groups. The administration’s new drug policy proposal aims to reduce the supply and availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and related substances. However, civil rights groups warn this could have a significant impact on people …

Picture it: There are 100 people standing in front of you. All of them have a substance abuse disorder. You ask them to raise their hand if they started using drugs before the age of 18. 90 hands go up. What does the show of hands prove? Age matters. In fact, it’s a staggering statistic. …

“I just need a way out of my head. I’ll do anything for a way out of my head.” These are the lyrics from Mac Miller’s platinum track “Come Back To Earth.” The song’s album, Swimming, achieved platinum status in February of 2021 – two and a half years after the rapper’s death. It was …