Why hasnt the opioid epidemic hit other countries?

[hunter]

17. Trouble is once they are "cut off" then what?

Street drugs are easy, or if you've got money, scam providers are easy too. Witness Rush Limbaugh living, or Michael Jackson dead...

How do we reduce harm?

It's not working in the U.S.A. because we usually regard addiction as a moral failing not a medical problem.

In the U.S.A. it seems "hitting bottom" has to be a death or near death experience, whereas in more civilized nations it's just a crappy room, supervision and therapy, and whatever it takes to get you through the day, methadone, a few beers, whatever.

We'd be a much more humane society if we accepted the fact that some people are going to be living at very minimal levels of social functionality, years even, before they can move on to better lives, and that a very small minority will never overcome their addictions, but that it's no reason to wish any hell upon them.

By virtue of our humanity, we all deserve a safe place to simply exist.