Over the past twenty years, over half a million Americans have died of opioid overdoses.In this episode, we'll explore how this happened, who is responsible, and ask ourselves whether the USA will ever be able to kick its addiction to prescription opioids. 
Origin of "opioid"
Opioid overdoses in the US vs Western Europe
What caused the boom in opioid use in the United States?
Morphine & heroin during the American Civil War
The arrival of OxyContin
Purdue Pharma sales representatives' tactics to sell the drug to doctors
Increasing the doses for patients
The "less than 1% of patients become addicted" claim
People start abusing the drug
Senior executives are aware but do nothing
The cycle of addiction that doctors saw
Moving onto heroin & fentanyl
Why fentanyl is so powerful and dangerous
Who has been held responsible for the opioid crisis?
The Sackler Family (and its quest for immunity)
Opioid prescriptions are down, but overdoses are up
Is a solution for the opioid crisis possible?
Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/opioid-crisis---You might like:? Join the weekly newsletter? Get all the bonus episodes & transcripts ? Get $10 free italki credit ? Save 50% on Preply private English teachers✍️ Free English Grammar Checker