Opioid addiction is an epidemic. Let’s treat it like one.
If we want to talk about the opioid epidemic as an actual epidemic, let’s use the same terms we use for communicable disease: agent, vector/environment, host. Virulence. Transmission. Immunity.
The media has done a great job of providing descriptive statistics of the epidemic. And recent oversight, both legislative and advisory, have attempted to focus on altering vector (prescriber) behavior in the wake of apparent failed attempts to reduce agent virulence. What …