The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in US history, killing thousands of people through disease and overdose. Recently, President Trump declared the growing crisis a “public health emergency.” Opioids are part of a drug class that includes the illegal drug heroin as well as powerful pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and many others. Every day in the United States thousands of people are treated in emergency departments for not using prescription opioids as directed. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioid addiction is driving this epidemic. As awareness of the opioid crisis in America has grown, so has awareness over one of its most visible side
