re: Is the Opoid "epidemic" real?

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No longer a burden on emergency services

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Make Narcan inexpensive and available over the counter.

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no longer a burden on the populace

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For one, we can stop drug testing people for employment. If they are able to do the job, then nothing else matters. If they are able to hold down a job, then they can afford insurance which reduces the burden on others. People also don't need to commit crimes when they are employed. I know it's not a popular stance, but making drugs legal would lower the price making it easier for addicts to get, further reducing the burden on the populace. The majority of an addict's time is spent looking for a fix. This time could now be spent working. A program in Vancouver has shown success in this regard. I know several people that were fired for failing a drug test despite their performance being exceptional, which is just dumb. That doesn't even count the ones that were refused employment outright.

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And cut off the money from the dealers

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Legalize it.

Being intoxicated is human nature. It has been happening as long as civilization has been around. We might as well be trying to stop people from having sex. We are trying to fix the problem from the completely wrong direction. Fighting human nature is futile.

Plus, there's the whole personal freedom aspect.