America's opioid crisis, which has evolved from prescription painkiller misuse to a deadly fentanyl-driven epidemic, is increasingly linked to pharmaceutical industry practices, according to healthcare professionals. Nia Casselman, a veteran addiction treatment administrator at St. John of God Health Care Services in California, states: "Pharmaceutical companies played a huge role in systematically creating addiction."
Casselman, with 25 years of frontline experience, highlights how aggressive prescribing practices overlooked risks. "Physicians became unwitting enablers," she explains, noting that patients denied prescriptions often turn to illicit fentanyl—now responsible for over 70% of U.S. overdose deaths.
While U.S. lawmakers debate accountability measures, the crisis underscores global challenges in balancing pain management with corporate responsibility. Young professionals and policymakers worldwide are urged to scrutinize similar patterns in emerging markets as synthetic opioids gain traction across G20 nations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
