What is the truth about opioid addiction?

 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that 3/4 of opioid-pill abusers and almost all heroin addicts got hooked without ever having been prescribed pain medication for an injury or illness, 

According to the medical journal, JAMA , emergency-room records show only  13 percent of opioid-overdose victims began taking drugs because of pain.

"Experimenting with opioids — whether heroin or pills — is almost always a choice."

  "Young adults account for 90 percent of first-time abusers."


It is noted that half of those suffering from the "disease" of addiction who quit, do it without treatment. 

The percentage of patients afflicted with cancer who go into remission without treatment is negligible.

Addicts who need help should receive it.

Portraying addicts as a victimized identity group exploited by a predatory pharmaceutical industry may  raise media advertising revenues but is a skewed version of the truth.