The U.S. opioid epidemic has claimed over 110,000 lives in 2022 alone – a grim new record – as fentanyl and prescription drugs fuel what experts call a ‘systematic addiction crisis’. 🌡️
A Quarter-Century Battle
Nia Castleman, a veteran addiction specialist at St. John of God Health Care Services, has watched the crisis evolve like a slow-motion tsunami: ‘Pharmaceutical companies created this domino effect. Now illicit fentanyl is finishing what pills started.’ 💔
Voices From the Frontlines
In group therapy sessions, survivors describe how addiction upends lives regardless of background. One participant shared: ‘I had the job, the family… then lost it all chasing that high.’ Their stories reveal a struggle that’s equal parts medical, economic, and deeply human. 👥
What’s Next?
With overdose deaths rising 5% annually, advocates push for stronger regulation and accessible treatment. Castleman stresses: ‘Recovery isn’t just possible – it’s happening daily in rooms like ours.’ 🌟
