It's also a series of small choices that seem even smaller given the situation and timescale. Everyone has their own story, but I've heard this one too many times. Imagine this is over the course of years:

- You feel chemically great due to this pill

- The pill stops working so well

- You find out, despite the scary name, that heroin is basically the same thing as the pill but a whole lot cheaper

- You're hanging out with the people you've met that do the same drug, and one of them offers to IV for you

- You debate it, but end up trying it at home

This is, of course, an oversimplification.

The opioid crisis was so awful because many people got to step 2 without realizing the path they were going down, and when the doctor/dea cut them off, it was easier to go down one step than go back. There should have been massive support in place.

Stay safe everyone, please.

Ehh, blame is tricky. An addicted person may get to the point of having no control but there are often a lot of off-ramps on that road to get there.

Making amends is a step for a reason.