The Opiod Epidemic: When Relief Becomes a Crisis

This week, I started watching Dopesick, a gripping TV series that dives deep into the origin and spread of the opioid crisis in America. The show follows the development of the drug OxyContin by a wealthy pharmaceutical family, and how it was marketed and prescribed across various states.

At first glance, the drug seemed like a miracle, promising long-lasting relief for people in serious physical pain. But behind the advertisements and carefully chosen words like “non-addictive for most patients” was a truth far more disturbing: this drug was highly addictive. And the people who were hurt the most were the ones who followed the rules.

The story is not just about a drug; it’s about people. People who were in pain, who trusted their doctors, who took their medication exactly as prescribed… and still became addicted.

Some died. Others lost families, jobs, and even their sense of self. What happened?

This blog explores how a drug meant to relieve pain became the source of so much suffering.

What Happens in the Brain?

Opioids like OxyContin mimic natural chemicals in the body called endorphins, which are the "feel good" chemicals we release when we're happy, exercising, or relaxed. When opioids enter the brain, they attach to receptors, which:

• Block pain

• Create feelings of euphoria

• Trigger the release of dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical

  
  

But over time, the brain adapts. It reduces its own dopamine production, relying on the drug to feel good. The same dose no longer works, so people take more. And more. Until they are trapped.

This is called tolerance, and it’s followed closely by dependence, a physical and emotional need for the drug. Once this sets in, stopping the drug can feel impossible. Withdrawal is painful, both physically and mentally. It’s not just cravings, it’s bone-deep pain, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, and depression.

People aren't just hooked, they're held hostage by their own neurochemistry.

Addiction Is Not Always a Choice

One of the most painful misconceptions about opioid addiction is the idea that people choose it. They didn’t.

Many people who became addicted were:

• Recovering from surgery

• Dealing with injury

• Managing chronic illness

• Trusting their doctor and the medical system

  
  

They didn’t take it to get high. They took it to heal. But the drug rewired their brains, slowly, quietly, and powerfully. Addiction isn’t a character flaw. It’s not about willpower. It’s about what opioids do to the brain. Anyone with a body and a nervous system can fall into this trap.

One of the most striking moments in Dopesick is when a doctor, who had been prescribing OxyContin to his patients, gets into a car accident and suffers from back pain. Another doctor recommends he take OxyContin, and he does. Slowly, he begins to spiral into addiction, becoming just like the very patients he once treated. This moment is powerful because it shows that addiction doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of education, status, or intentions. Opioids don’t just target a specific “type” of person. They alter the brain, and no one is immune to that biology.

Why I’m Writing This

Watching Dopesick opened my eyes, but it also opened my heart.

As someone who cares deeply about mental health, neuroscience, and compassion-based care, I felt the need to speak. This blog isn’t just about a drug; it’s about a moment in history where profit came before people, and a reminder that science must always be met with ethics.

It’s also about the people, mothers, fathers, students, workers, who never meant to end up addicted, but did. Their stories matter. Their pain matters. And if we’re going to build a society that truly heals, we must face what’s broken.

As teens, we’re easily influenced, sometimes by curiosity or peer pressure. You might think, “One try won’t hurt,” but with opioids or even vapes, one try can lead to addiction. These substances don’t just change your brain, they can change who you are. Soon, daily life feels harder, and all you can think about is getting that next high. It happens faster than you think, even when you believe it never could.

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Thank you for reading. My sources are listed below:

How a brain gets hooked on opioids. (2017, October 9). PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/brain-gets-hooked-opioids

Prescription Opioids DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, May 25). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids

uhs@THC. (2025, January 28). Understanding opioids’ impact on brain functioning. Horsham Clinic. https://horshamclinic.com/blog/understanding-opioids-impact-on-brain-function/