BBC News – Opioid crisis linked to two-year drop in US life expectancy

There should be a multifactorial approach, tackling this issue.

Among other things,

1. Medical professionals (like myself) should be more careful of Rxing (prescribing) narcotic drugs, e.g. by checking patients’ history more carefully, since many doctors may tend to avoid getting more info or confrontation (against patients’ will), due to e.g. fear of losing patients (losing business).
Professionals reform…!

2. Patients Education. Find ways, e.g. to improve patient’s own self esteem; so that they don’t rely much on drugs.
People reform…!