,! ,OPIOID ,CRISIS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,9 DOM9ANT ,AM]ICAN DISC\RSE1 :ITE PEOPLE >E ALWAYS ! PROTAGONI/S4 ,!IR PROBLEMS & DILEMMAS1 PLEASURES & PA91 >E TREAT$ AS EV]YONE'S PRIM>Y CONC]N4 ,EV5 IF Y\ >E NOT 9CLUD$ 9 ?IS N>RATIVE1 Y\'RE =C$ TO RECKON ) IT4 ,:ILE WE AN>*I/S W\LD LIKE TO SEE A WORLD 9 :I* NO *>ACT] IS A C>ICATURE1 9 :I* PEOPLE >E NOT DIVID$ BY RACE & ONLY TAKE DELI<T 9 \R DIFF]5CES1 WE >E ALL CURR5TLY OBLIG$ TO PAY ATT5TION TO ! PROBLEMS ( :ITE PEOPLE BECAUSE1 9 !IR PA91 !Y FREQU5TLY LA% \T AT ?OSE !Y P]CEIVE AS !IR 5EMIES4 ,! OPIOID CRISIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE4 

,9 AN 9T]VIEW ON ,NATIONAL ,PUBLIC ,RADIO1 AU?OR ,M>G>ET ,TALBOT DESCRIBES A SC5E %E WITNESS$ AT A S(TBALL PRACTICE 9 ,WE/ ,VIRG9IA3  
  

0,!RE W]E A BUN* ( MIDDLE S*OOL-AGE GIRLS SITT+ ON ! GR\ND COM=T+ EA* O!R & CRY+1 !RE W]E TWO LITTLE KIDS RUNN+ >\ND CRY+ & SCREAM+1 & !RE W]E A LOT ( ADULTS TRY+ TO HELP !M & ESCORT !M AWAY FROM ! SC5E BECAUSE TWO P>5TS :O HAD COME TO !IR DAU<T]'S PRACTICE1 A MAN & A WOMAN1 HAD BO? OV]DOS$ SIMULTANE\SLY & W]E LY+ ON ! FIELD AB\T SIX FEET AP>T & 9 OBVI\S NE$ ( RESUSCITATION4 ,!IR TWO LITTLE Y\NG] *ILDR5 :O HAD COME ) !M W]E TRY+ TO GET !M TO WAKE UP4 ,SO ,MI*AEL & HIS COLLEAGUE W]E ABLE TO REVIVE ! P>5TS US+ ,N>CAN1 :I* IS ! ANTIDOTE TO OPIOID OV]DOSES--REV]SES !M4 ,BUT AS IS 9CREAS+LY ! CASE1 IT TOOK SEV]AL DOSES TO REVIVE !M BECAUSE !Y HAD PROBABLY HAD H]O9 ?AT WAS CUT ) SOME?+ /RONG]1 POSSIBLY F5TANYL4 ,& SO ?IS WAS ! SC5E ?AT WAS WITNESS$ BY MANY PEOPLE 9 ?IS COMMUNITY :O W]E AT ?IS S(TBALL PRACTICE ON AN AFT]NOON 9 ,M>*40  
  

,SOME ( ?OSE ADULT WITNESSES1 ,TALBOT SAYS1 W]E 5C\RAG+ ! ,E,M,TS TO LET ! P>5TS DIE4 ,?IS 9HUMANITY IS %OCK+2 IT'S NO MY/]Y :Y PEOPLE LIKE ! ONES 9 ?IS /ORY >E TRY+ TO GET HI<4 ,FEW PEOPLE FEEL LIKE !IR LIVES >E WOR? MU* !SE DAYS2 CON/ANT L[-LEVEL /RESS OV] MONEY1 FAMILY1 RELATION%IPS1 SOCIAL DISORD]1 HEAL?1 & WORK >E FEATURES ( EV]YONE'S LIVES4 ,:5 Y\'RE POOR1 & P]HAPS SOCIALLY ISOLAT$1 ?OSE ?+S COMP\ND4 ,POV]TY IS ONLY OCCASIONALLY DRAMATIC OR JOYFUL2 MO/LY1 IT'S CRU%+LY BOR+ & /RESSFUL4 ,IF Y\ >E PRESCRIB$ PA9 M$ICATION BECAUSE ( AN 9JURY OR *RONIC PA91 ! EUPHORIA & FLOAT+ FRE$OM MAY BE ! BE/ Y\'VE FELT 9 YE>S4 ,?IS IS H[ MO/ PEOPLE N[ />T !IR OPIOID ADDICTIONS4 

,9 ! #a#i#iS1 ,U,S DOCTORS W]E RECONSID]+ !IR BELIEFS AB\T PA94 ,RECOGNIZ+ ! TOLL ?AT CON/ANT1 L[-LEVEL PA9 CAN TAKE ON ! BODY--MU* LIKE ! EFFECT ( POV]TY UPON ! SPIRIT--DOCTORS BEGAN TO PRESCRIBE PA9 M$ICATION MORE FREELY1 BELIEV+ ?AT BE+ FREE FROM PA9 MI<T SPE$ RECOV]Y1 AS WELL AS BE+ A BOON 9 ITSELF4 ,PH>MACEUTICAL COMPANIES TOLD DOCTORS ?AT !IR LATE/ PA9 M$ICATIONS W]E NOT LIKELY TO BE ADDICTIVE4 

,?IS CLAIM IS TRUE = SOME--SOME PEOPLE CAN TAKE OPIOIDS = A C\PLE ( DAYS AFT] SURG]Y & !N SWIT* TO OV]-!-C\NT] M$IC9ES )\T A HIT*4 ,BUT OPIOIDS HIT O!R PEOPLE'S BRA9S DIFF]5TLY3 !Y EXP]I5CE 9T5SE PLEASURE & COM=T1 & AFT] A C\PLE ( WEEKS ( EASE1 GO+ (F ! M$ICATION CAN FEEL UNBE>ABLY BLEAK4 ,SO PEOPLE KEPT GO+ BACK = MORE--&1 EV5TUALLY1 WORD BEGAN TO CIRCULATE AB\T :I* DOCTORS W\LD FREELY PRESCRIBE PA9 M$ICATIONS4 ,SOME ( !SE (FICES W]E ! FREQU5TLY-EXPOS$1 CYNICALLY-MOTIVAT$ 0PILL F>MS02 O!RS JU/ TRU/$ !IR PATI5TS4 ,PA9 IS PA91 ! DOCTORS REASON$1 & ADDICTION IS NOT A S92 IS IT REALLY SO BAD TO PRESCRIBE PEOPLE :AT !Y NE$ TO FEEL ,O,K 9 ! WORLD8 ,:AT IS ! L9E BETWE5 ,ADD]ALL & SPE$1 ,OXYCONT9 & H]O98 ,ONLY LEGITIMACY4 ,= PEOPLE :O W]E NOT COM=TABLE ?9K+ ( !MSELVES AS CRIM9ALS1 IT FELT MORE POSSIBLE TO EXAGG]ATE TO A DOCTOR ?AN TO BUY H]O9 ON ! CORN]4 

,AS WORD SPREAD AB\T ! ACCESSIBILITY ( !SE OPIOID PILLS1 H]O9 DEAL]S SAW !IR M>KET SLIPP+ AWAY4 ,C>TELS 9 ,MEXICO1 ,GUATEMALA1 & O!R C\NTRIES TOOK NOTICE1 & />T$ PRODUC+ H]O9 SO PURE ?AT IT C\LD BE CUT MU* MORE1 PRODUC+ A L>G] AM\NT ( PRODUCT ?AT C\LD BE SOLD = LESS4 ,!Y ALSO BEGAN CUTT+ IT ) DIFF]5T *EMICALS1 :I* MADE IT F> MORE POT5T & POT5TIALLY DEADLY2 &1 ( C\RSE1 CUTT+ H]O9 TO SELL ON ! BLACK M>KET IS NOT AN EXACT SCI5CE4 

,:5 ! GOV]NM5T F9ALLY />T$ TI<T5+ REGULATIONS = PRESCRIB+ OPIOIDS & RAID+ PILL F>MS1 MILLIONS ( ADDICTS W]E LEFT DESP]ATE1 & TURN$ AT LA/ TO EXPLICITLY ILLEGAL DRUGS1 :I* W]E N[ MORE AF=DABLE ?AN EV]--& F> MORE DANG]\S4 ,:ILE RATES ( OPIOID & H]O9 ADDICTION >E NOT ACTUALLY HI<] ?AN !Y US$ TO BE1 ! RATE ( PEOPLE DY+ FROM OV]DOSES HAS SKYROCKET$4 ,! DOSES PEOPLE >E US$ TO TAK+ MAY BE FIVE TIMES AS POT5T AS BE=E4 ,SURELY NO ONE WANTS TO GET HI< AT !IR KIDS' SOCC] PRACTICE3 :AT !Y WANT IS TO FEEL NORMAL RA!R ?AN RAV5\S = A FIX1 ABLE TO *E] !IR KIDS ON1 SO !Y FIX A HIT BE=E !Y >RIVE444 BUT SOMETIMES1 9/EAD ( 5ABL+ !M TO FUNCTION1 ! M$IC9E KNOCKS !M \T4 

,IT'S OBVI\S ?AT ?IS CRISIS IS RECEIV+ V]Y DIFF]5T COV]AGE ?AN ! CRACK EPIDEMIC ( ! #a#i#iS OR ! H]O9 EPIDEMIC ?AT PREC$$ IT 9 BLACK COMMUNITIES4 ,?OSE WAVES ( DRUG USE BECAME A PRETEXT = MASS 9C>C]ATION1 M&ATORY M9IMUMS1 ?REE-/RIKES LAWS1 P]MISSIBLE RACIAL PR(IL+1 & MILIT>IZ$ S*OOLS1 ALL ( :I* PUT A DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK & BR[N POPULATION 9 PRISON1 DIS5FRAN*IZ$ ( VOT+ RI<TS & UNABLE TO F9D LEGAL WORK ONCE !Y EM]GE4 ,!SE EX-PRISON]S >E !RE=E UNABLE TO EX]T EV5 ! SLI<TE/ LEV]AGE ON ! GOV]NM5T POLICIES ?AT 9C>C]AT$ !M VIA ! TRADITIONAL POLITICAL MEANS ( VOT+1 LOBBY+1 & CUTT+ DEALS4 ,!Y >E LIKELY TO BE =C$ TO BREAK ! LAW TO SURVIVE1 :I* MAY MEAN !Y RETURN TO PRISON4 

,A CYNICAL P]SON MI<T SPECULATE ?AT IT'S NO CO9CID5CE DRUG LAWS >E BE+ RE=M$ PRECISELY :5 :ITE PEOPLE >E EXP]I5C+ ?IS CRISIS4 ,:ITE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS US$ DRUGS1 ( C\RSE1 BUT IT HAS ONLY REC5TLY BE5 CONSID]$ A MAJOR PROBLEM4 ,AL?\< #c#c1 PEOPLE DI$ FROM OV]DOS+ 9 #b#a#e1 !RE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A CORRESPOND+ WAVE ( REPRESSION DIRECT$ AT ?AT POPULATION4 ,! LIB]AL AFFECT AB\T ! EPIDEMIC IS ONE ( 9T5SE SADNESS & LOSS1 AS ?\< !Y >E SURVEY+ ! DAMAGE LEFT BY A HURRICANE--SOME?+ BEYOND ANYONE'S CONTROL4 ,CONS]VATIVES1 AS USUAL1 HAVE PL5TY ( JUDGM5T TO (F]3 US]S >E DEPICT$ AS TRAIL] TRA%1 JUDG$ = ! V]Y POV]TY ?AT MAY HAVE DRIV5 !M TO USE4 ,BUT !RE'S (T5 A SECOND NOTE ( ANG]3 BO? IMPOV]I%$ :ITE COMMUNITY MEMB]S & ! POLITICIANS !Y ELECT >E LOOK+ = SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME4 

,IT'S NO SURPRISE :O ! SCAPEGOAT IS4 ,BLACK & BR[N PEOPLE >E ALWAYS BLAM$ = :ITE DESPAIR4 ,! SAME OLD TIR$ N>RATIVES >E TROTT$ \T3 !SE DRUGS >E COM+ FROM S\? ( ! BORD]2 !Y'RE TAK+ \R JOBS2 !IR CIVIL UNRE/ IS WRECK+ \R COMMUNITIES4 ,:ITE PEOPLE REM9ISCE AB\T :5 !IR T[NS US$ TO HAVE 9DU/RY--JOBS = L[]-CLASS PEOPLE ?AT SUPPOS$LY PROMIS$ A POSSIBLE WAY \T ( POV]TY OR AT LEA/ ALL[$ !M TO REMA9 POOR 9 A /ABLE SORT ( WAY4 ,FEW :ITE PEOPLE1 H[EV]1 HAVE TURN$ T[>DS RADICAL POLITICS 9 RESPONSE TO DE9DU/RIALIZATION2 MO/ ( ! PR$OM9ANTLY :ITE COMMUNITIES ?AT B5EFIT FROM ,M$ICAID EXPANSION DRUG TREATM5T /ILL VOT$ = ,TRUMP1 :O PROMIS$ TO REPEAL ,OBAMAC>E4 ,?IS IS NOT 5TIRELY BAD NEWS1 AS IT SUGGE/S PEOPLE CANNOT BE EASILY SATISFI$--!Y WANT SOME?+ :OLLY DIFF]5T1 NOT JU/ H>M R$UCTION--BUT IT IS DI/URB+ 9 LI<T ( H[ ,TRUMP'S PRESID5CY IS LIKELY TO CONT9UE TO AFFECT BLACK & BR[N PEOPLE4 

,ALL ?IS FEELS DEPRESS+LY R\T9E = ANYONE :O HAS BE5 PAY+ ATT5TION TO ! DOM9ANT >C ( ,U,S HI/ORY4 ,IRONICALLY1 F> FROM BE+ RESPONSIBLE = ! PROBLEM1 MANY ( ! MIGRANTS COM+ TO ! ,U,S >E FLEE+ ! VIOL5CE ( ! C>TELS RESPONSIBLE = PRODUC+ !SE DRUGS1 :I* >E FUND$ BY ! ,U,S CITIZ5S :O CONSUME !IR W>ES1 NOT BY ! ,MEXICAN & ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICAN MIGRANTS FLEE+ !IR ZONES ( CONTROL4 

,MANY BLACK PEOPLE 9 ! #a#i#gS & '#hS F\<T AGA9/ POLICE H>ASSM5T & = BLACK SELF-DET]M9ATION & COMMUNITY 9VOLVEM5T 9 DRUG US] RECOV]Y--& SOMETIMES1 UN=TUNATELY1 = HEAVI] LEGAL P5ALTIES & 9CREAS$ POLICE H>ASSM5T ( PR$OM9ANTLY BLACK DRUG US]S4 ,9 CONTRA/1 MANY :ITE PEOPLE SEEM LESS EAG] TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR DEM& *ANGE ALONG ?OSE L9ES4 ,SELF-DECL>$ SONS ( :ITE ,AM]ICA FEEL ROBB$ ( !IR BIR?RI<T1 & !Y WANT IT BACK FROM !IR BLACK1 BR[N1 IMMIGRANT1 & (F-%ORE BRO!RS444 NEV] CONSID]+ ?AT IT C\LD BE !IR [N P>5TS :O >E TO BLAME4 ,SOME :ITES ACKN[L$GE ?AT RE=M+ !IR [N BEHAVIOR IS P>T ( ! SOLUTION TO !IR SOCIAL PROBLEMS1 BUT MANY--SU* AS ! ,PR\D ,BOYS--AIM TO DO SO ONLY 9 ORD] TO GLORIFY & R5EW ! MISOGYNI/1 RACI/ F\NDATIONS ( 0,WE/]N CIVILIZATION40 

,?IS IS IRONIC1 9 ?AT !SE SAME RACIALIZ$ DIVISIONS >E ALSO RESPONSIBLE = PREV5T+ :ITE WORK]S FROM MAK+ COMMON CAUSE ) O!RS TO /& UP = !MSELVES AGA9/ ! CAUSES ( !IR SUFF]+4 ,DE9DU/RIALIZATION IS HITT+ :ITE COMMUNITIES N[ ! SAME WAY ?AT IT HIT BLACK COMMUNITIES 9 ! #a#i#hS1 BR++ ) IT ! ADDICTION & DESPAIR LONG FAMILI> TO MORE T>GET$ GR\PS4 ,:ILE FASCI/S SEEK TO ATTRIBUTE RESPONSIBILITY = ! SUFF]+ ( POOR :ITE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE ( COLOR OR SOME SORT ( ,JEWI% CONSPIRACY1 ! FUNDAM5TAL PROBLEM IS OBVI\SLY CAPITALISM4 ,M>KET IMP]ATIVES MAKE DEAL]S & C>TELS SEEK PR(IT AT ANY CO/1 JU/ AS !Y REW>D 9DU/RIAL CORPORATIONS ?AT %IFT !IR PRODUCTION FACILITIES (F%ORE OR REPLACE HUMAN EMPLOYES ) MA*9ES4 ,IT IS CAPITALISM ?AT HAS BROK5 UP \R COMMUNITIES1 COMPELL+ US TO *ASE JOBS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANO!R ACROSS ! CONT95T :ILE EXTRACTIVE CORPORATIONS DECIMATE ! NATURAL WORLD WE DEP5D ON = SURVIVAL4 ,TO DEF5D \RSELVES AGA9/ ?IS ONSLAU<T1 WE HAVE TO COME TOGE!R ACROSS ALL L9ES ( ID5TITY1 ID5TIFY+ ) EA* O!R EV5 ACROSS GULFS ( PRIVILEGE & FI<T+ TO ABOLI% PRIVILEGE & CAPITALISM 5TIRELY4 ,ONE ( ! *IEF REASONS RACE WAS 9V5T$ 9 ! FIR/ PLACE WAS TO SPLIT ! 9T]E/S ( ?OSE ON ! RECEIV+ 5D ( ALL ! DISP>ITIES & MIS=TUNES IMPOS$ BY CAPITALISM4 

,BUT :AT DO WE DO AB\T ADDICTION ITSELF8 ,9 HIS BOOK1 ,9 ,! ,REALM ( ,HUNGRY ,<O/S1 ,DR4 ,GABOR ,MATE REVIEWS /UDIES P]=M$ ON RATS ?AT ILLUM9E AN ALT]NATIVE SOLUTION TO ! DILEMMAS ( :ITE ,AM]ICA4 ,MATE DESCRIBES H[ RESE>*]S ADDICT$ RATS TO COCA9E4 ,PR$ICTABLY1 ! RATS CAME BACK = MORE COCA9E REGUL>LY1 EV5 FEV]I%LY4 ,BUT :5 ! RATS W]E REMOV$ FROM SOLIT>Y1 CL9ICAL SURR\ND+S & PUT 9 A NATURAL 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* !Y C\LD F9D EA* O!R & 5GAGE 9 MORE 9T]E/+ ACTIVITY1 ! RATS1 ?\< ALREADY ADDICT$1 W]E MU* LESS 9T]E/$ 9 COCA9E ?AN 9 ! RE/ ( !IR LIVES4 

,PEOPLE >E NOT RATS1 & COCA9E IS NOT AN OPIATE1 BUT ! IMPLICATIONS >E CLE> 5\<4 ,TO PUT AN 5D TO ! PROBLEM ( H>MFUL ADDICTIONS 9 \R SOCIETY1 WE HAVE TO MAKE \R WORLD LIVABLE4 ,?IS IS ALSO A WAY TO UND]/& ! AN>*I/ PROJECT4 

,AS AN>*I/S1 WE ASPIRE TO FI<T ! CAUSES ( UNHAPP9ESS & POV]TY1 TO C\NT] ! /RATEGIES ?AT \R OPPRESSORS EMPLOY TO DRA9 US ( EMOTIONAL & MAT]IAL RES\RCES ?AT C\LD BE EMPLOY$ \TSIDE !IR M>KETPLACE4 ,WE AIM TO 9T]RUPT ! DE/RUCTION ( \R WORLD & \R RELATION%IPS & \R ABILITY TO %>E4 ,IF WE LOVE PEOPLE :O >E SUFF]+ FROM DRUG ADDICTION1 REG>DLESS ( !IR RACE1 WE MU/ MAKE ! WORLD A MORE LIVABLE PLACE4 ,LET'S CREATE A WORLD NO ONE W\LD WANT TO ESCAPE1 9 :I* ! IDEA ( A DRUG ?AT W\LD MAKE US FEEL LESS ALIVE--OR A CELLPHONE OR A VIDEO GAME OR ANY O!R PRODUCT--IS SELF-EVID5TLY UNDESIRABLE4 

,?IS MEANS MA9TA9+ COOP]ATIVE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT ?OSE FI<T+ TO FREE !MSELVES ( ADDICTION--EV5 ,ALCOHOLICS ,ANONYM\S WAS F\ND$ BY PEOPLE READ+ ! AN>*I/ ,PET] ,KROPOTK9 TO LE>N AB\T H[ GR\PS BAS$ 9 HORIZONTAL ORGANIZ+ & MUTUAL AID C\LD ADDRESS !IR [N NE$S TOGE!R4 ,BUT IT ALSO MEANS ATTACK+ ! F\NDATIONS ( AU?ORITY 9 ?IS SOCIETY4 ,:5 WE FI<T AGA9/ ! P[] ?AT CAPITALISM & ! /ATE CURR5TLY POSSESS TO DET]M9E ALL ! POSSIBILITIES ( \R LIVES1 WE >E ALSO FI<T+ AGA9/ ! CAUSES ( ADDICTION1 RACISM1 & DESPAIR4 

,P>T ( ?IS UND]TAK+ IS REFUS+ TO LET :ITE PEOPLE BLAME O!R BROKE PEOPLE = !IR DIFFICULTIES4 ,WE HAVE TO %[ CLE>LY :O ! 5EMY IS & CREATE AV5UES = F9D+ AFF9ITY & SOLID>ITY ACROSS RACIAL L9ES :ILE DEMON/RAT+ ! K9D ( ACTIVITY ?AT IT WILL TAKE TO SOLVE \R %>$ PROBLEMS4 ,WE MU/ REFUSE TO SANCTION SCAPEGOAT+1 YET SIMULTANE\SLY RESI/ ! URGE TO TREAT GR\PS ( PEOPLE AS MON/]S--EV5 ?OSE :O SCAPEGOAT4 ,! DIVISIONS ?AT RACISM IMPOSES 9 \R COMMUNITIES >E RESPONSIBLE = MU* ( ! SUFF]+ ?AT :ITE PEOPLE EXP]I5CE1 TOO--EV]YONE HAS A /AKE 9 ABOLI%+ :ITE SUPREMACY AS WELL AS ! 9/ITUTIONS ?AT DEP5D ON IT TO MA9TA9 !IR SWAY4 ,WE MU/ 9TRODUCE AN AN>*I/ T5SION 9TO ALL !SE ONGO+ /RUGGLES = SURVIVAL4 

,:5 WE IMAG9E ?IS TASK ON A GLOBAL SCALE1 IT APPE>S ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE4 ,=TUNATELY1 WE 5C\NT] IT BROK5 UP 9TO SMALL] /EPS EV]Y S+LE DAY4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #b#cRD ,APRIL #bba FROM CRIME?9C4COM47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,! ,OPIOID ,CRISIS -- ,ADD$4 

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