Combating the Opioid Epidemic

Not discriminating on age, race, or gender, this investigative reporting project examines the growing opioid epidemic and the impact it has had on the United States. Quickly spreading across the country, the epidemic has taken the lives of millions and has had a negative impact on those who have been directly involved with opioids and those who are the friends and families of those who are addicted. This research, much like the epidemic, targets the nation and is an educational tool that will hopefully give insight into the cause of the epidemic, as well as alternatives and ways to combat this growing problem. The methods used to examine the epidemic include the examination of public documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests and through document searches, alongside in-depth interviews with an expert in the healthcare industry and an individual who was personally impacted by the epidemic. The goal of this research is to understand the issues and circumstances that led to the opioid epidemic and its continued growth