There is a disastrous disease raging across the United States and being prescribed to its victims. This monstrous epidemic is referred to as the opioid crisis and it is taking the world by storm. Opioids are powerful, pain-relieving drugs that have a numbing effect similar to morphine. While some opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, are illegal and synthetically produced, there are many that can be easily accessed at your local doctor's office; these drugs include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. This epidemic began as an innocent attempt by medical professionals to more easily create pain management for their patients; however, due to the glut of opioids supplied by pharmaceutical companies and the easy accessibility of the drug, both sick and healthy humans are becoming addicted to opioids. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay In the late 1990s, pharmacies encouraged the medical community to keep their patients from becoming addicted to opioids; which prompted healthcare providers to start prescribing the drugs at a greater rate. According to the National Poison Control Center, “During this period, pharmaceutical companies also began promoting the use of opioids in patients with non-cancer-related pain, even though data regarding the risks and benefits in these patients were lacking. In 1999, 86% of patients using opioids used them for non-cancer pain.” This discovery highlighted the fact that people were actually abusing these drugs. Over time, the number of people who have engaged in this drug abuse has skyrocketed. As a result, the medical community began to push back against opioid prescriptions; however, this obstacle has directed users towards a more powerful and illegal alternative. Heroin was the next best option for those who could not receive opioids. Lindsy Liu, a certified poison information specialist, says, “Heroin use has increased among both genders, across most age groups, and across all socioeconomic groups. Deaths due to heroin overdoses increased 286% from 2002 to 2013, and approximately 80% of heroin users admitted to abusing prescription opioids before turning to heroin.” The increased demand for heroin has led to an increase in its illegal production and sale, allowing for the addition of synthetic opioids. Lindsy Liu further states, “The sharpest increase in drug-related deaths occurred in 2016 with over 20,000 deaths due to fentanyl and related drugs. The increase in fentanyl deaths has been linked to illegally produced fentanyl (not diverted medical fentanyl) used to replace or adulterate other drugs of abuse.” Over the decades, individuals have become addicted to these drugs and the effects they cause, creating a dramatic impact not only on individuals who have personal experiences with addiction, but on our country's economy and our government. This epidemic is extremely costly, not only to those affected, but to our government who pays for the repercussions. The Opioid Crisis Organization describes the multiple financial aspects of this situation: “Arise from (A) medical assistance for individuals suffering from opioid-related addiction, or overdose, or opioid-related medical conditions; (B) treatment of infants born with opioid-related medical conditions; (C) counseling and rehabilitation services for individuals with opioid addiction; (D) social services,.