The opioid epidemic has rocked every corner of the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 47,600 Americas died of an opioid overdose in 2017.1 This number has only been increasing in recent years as more and more people become addicted and need prescription pain pill treatment.
Are Pharmaceutical Companies Responsible for the Opioid Epidemic?
With the number of overdose deaths continuing to rise and the number of people addicted to opioids increasing, people are looking for someone to point fingers at, and many have landed on the big pharmaceutical industries in the United States. Our drug and alcohol treatment center in Pompano is investigating.
Pharmaceutical companies are being blamed for not letting on just how addictive prescription pills can be. Whether they knowingly didn’t disclose this information or were not aware, the increased use of prescription opioids in the 1990s has been a big contributing factor to the rise of opioid overdose deaths.2 Before people realized just how addictive these pills were, they prescribed them in a much more careless fashion leading to their widespread use and then misuse.
Some people blame the drug companies for not just downplaying the addictive quality of these drugs but also for pushing their use. It is not uncommon for pharmaceutical companies to fund research projects. This relationship may create a conflict of interests for researchers and physicians. With 75% of the world’s opioid prescriptions from the United States alone in 2011, it is natural to question whether there may be some instances of foul play.3
In some instances, people have sued pharmaceutical companies for what they argue are unethical practices or dishonesty relating to prescription opioids. While bigger companies are usually able to handle this financial blow, some smaller companies may go bankrupt from these lawsuits. The opioid epidemic and pharmaceutical companies continue to make the headlines, but no matter how we got here, our biggest concern at Banyan Pompano is finding solutions. A PHP for drug addiction can treat those who are already addicted, but more needs to be done to prevent addiction in the first place.
If you or a loved one has an addiction to heroin, opioids, or another drug, stop pointing fingers and get help. It doesn’t matter how you got here; what does matter is that you decide to make a change. Let us provide you with more information on our addiction program and guide you through this process.
Call 888-280-4763 to learn how our rehab in Pompano can help you find sobriety.
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