Over a century before the widespread mis-marketing of OxyContin dominated news outlets, the nation grappled with its first widespread opioid epidemic. Both epidemics followed similar historical arcs of emergence, exploitation, and eruption. However, while the de-escalation of the 19th-century epidemic has become a distant memory, recovery from the most recent epidemic remains uncertain.
During the initial epidemic, pharmaceutical companies and federal regulations laid the groundwork for the stigmatization of opioid addiction, fostering an isolating environment for those currently struggling with opioid dependence. Accessible recovery services, coupled with efforts to destigmatize addiction left by the earlier epidemic, are crucial to preventing future devastation and establishing a resilient system capable of averting history's repetition.
To mitigate the escalating modern opioid crisis, it is imperative to comprehend the origins of the first epidemic, empathize with the physiological aspects of addiction, and ensure widespread availability of proven treatments such as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). "In Crisis, Again" visualizes each of these crucial factors essential for the nation's recovery, illustrating the overwhelming grip of opioids on the United States since their inception.