KevinMD November 9, 2025
Introduction: a crisis of pain
The opioid crisis is one of the most significant public health emergencies of our time, defined by staggering rates of addiction and overdose. Yet, behind the headlines is a story of profound and often overlooked human suffering. In an effort to save lives, public health policies were enacted to aggressively reduce opioid prescriptions. While well-intentioned, these policies have inadvertently precipitated a parallel crisis of iatrogenic harm, marked by uncontrolled pain, functional decline, and preventable deaths for millions of patients living with severe, chronic conditions. This article aims to move beyond simple blame and explore the complex, intersecting factors that fuel this crisis. By examining the unintended consequences of policy, the real drivers of overdose deaths,...
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