There's an epidemic of heroin overdose in the US, and I think it's especially prevalent in the middle of the country. One of the regular TV networks did a story on it just about 90 miles North of here in Columbus, OH. A drug they use to rescue overdosers is in short supply, and way expensive. It's apparently overwhelming the system.
The root cause, from what I've heard and read, is the healthcare system itself. Opioids have been overprescribed to such an extent that they've become ubiquitous, and have hooked a lot of people on, well, opium. A bag of heroin on the street costs a small fraction of what the prescription opioids do. So if someone can no longer get an insurance-paid prescription, they can turn to their friendly pusher. And pills are everywhere. I guess that's the bigger story in Canada. So very sad.
