https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30923-0/fulltext - US consumes 80% of the world's opioids - 1/3rd of US adults use prescription opioids - more die per year from opioids than from influenza, pneumonia, as well as from motor vehicle and firearm deaths Opioids were used for treating acute pain but gradually started for chronic pain as well (where the likelihood of developing an addiction was much higher)