Commentary: My brother, the opioid epidemic and the pills I gave him for his final birthday

The last birthday gift I gave my brother came in a small white box.

Nothing frilly, just a box I had laying around at home. I didn't gift wrap it or add a colorful bow. I simply wrote "Happy Birthday Joe" on a note, and left it in my mailbox, where he would pick it up early that morning.

All that mattered was my surprise gift inside. A small baggie of pain pills.

I wasn't sure exactly what kind they were. Leftovers from prescription medications for various ailments, injuries and procedures.

My brother