Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

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Narrator

America is in the midst of an opioid drug epidemic. -

Operator

Somebody telephone 9-1-1. We have commotion and using of drugs. -

Paramedic

Alright, 10-4. -

Narrator

Driven by escalating opioid addiction, drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under 50. People are literally dying in the street. They're dying in their parents' homes. -

Narrator

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the opioid epidemic is fueled by prescription pain medications. Great job. Way to communicate with eye contact. -

Narrator

Michael Israel dreamed of becoming an architect. In high school he participated in a video project exploring the architecture of his home town of Buffalo. These buildings have been here for such a long time. -

Narrator

Michael didn't realize his dream. Despondent over an addiction to prescription opioids, he took his own life at the age of 20. When Michael said, "I'm addicted", it was a big surprise. The next question that came out of my mouth was, "To what Mike?" And he said his pain pills. The medical community has been overprescribing opioids, that's really the reason we're in the midst of a severe epidemic of opioid addiction. The doctor did prescribe the hydrocodone for your knee pain. It's very important that you only take it as needed. I think some physicians don't appreciate how potent these drugs are, and don't necessarily appreciate how many problems they can create. How did the pain killers work out for you, originally? Started okay. Then I couldn't get enough. West Virginia has been ravaged by a flood of opioids. The epidemic we have in Ohio is fueled primarily by the pain med problem. -

Narrator

The opioid epidemic has spiraled as many addicted to prescription pain pills turn to cheaper and more available street drugs, like heroin and fentanyl. So Cameron was my son. He was wrestling and he broke his collarbone. So he was prescribed Percocet. And I never in a million years thought my boy would be a heroin addict. (somber piano music) There's a lot of blame to go around. Patient demand, pharmaceutical companies, doctors that are easy with the prescription pad, health insurance came in that would pay for all of this stuff. (doors slamming) I can't imagine anything else that would happen in our community that would be associated with that many deaths. I don't know where the outrage is.