589. Why Has the Opioid Crisis Lasted So Long? | Freakonomics Radio

Most epidemics flare up, do their damage, and fade away. This one has been raging for almost 30 years. To find out why, it’s time to ask some uncomfortable questions. (Part one of a two-part series.)
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[@austenopolis]

Just want to say about the teaser clip for the next episode: boiling down the AIDS epidemic to "being an issue of stigma" is horribly wrong. AIDS and HIV treatment was blocked by full scale discrimination and a desire from politicians, the general public, and medical professionals alike to see queer people dead. Saying that the barrier for treatment was simple stigma is woefully inadequate and I hope that gets addressed in the episode.

[@mironbarteczko730]

Amazing insight, thank You for this interesting topic.
I've been an alcohol and tobacco user since my early teenage years.
It's been just in recent years I've been able to stop both at once with the help of AI.
Facing the change and seeing positive outcomes has been important to me.
I do feel a bit like an alien now in the town where I live.
Just walking to the shops getting groceries gives me a sore throat from people in the streets smoking tobacco.
👍✨

[@bradfordsmith3203]

I don't think methadone is really a viable and safe option, it's a direct replacement for heroin and fentanyl and addicts can still use those substances together. It also gets them almost as high as the heroin and fentanyl. Im three years clean with monthly injections of now brixadi and before I was on sublicade monthly. Suboxone also isn't that great orally because there's still constant up and down feeling and addicts can just wait a day or so to use again if they want. Just my 2 cents. Im trying to wean off and get completely clean in the future.

[@maynardjohnson3313]

Sounds like maybe decriminalization heroin and methadone and have it available and standardize dosage.
Stigma is bullshit.

[@Job.Well.Done_01]

Availability of drugs, economic instability, generational issues.

[@JaredFarrer]

Yeah don’t suck and don’t spread misinformation