Misconceptions and Realities of the Prescription Opioid Epidemic.

The abuse of opioids in the US is not a new problem. In 1973 David Musto published his book, The American Disease: Origins of Narcotic Control, which described the problem as dating back to the time of the Civil War. Continued attempts to address it through legislation, law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and the development of less abuseable pain relievers have shown limited success.