I see part of the opioid crisis as an extension of the mental health infrastructure crisis. People don't just wake up one day and think it's a good idea to stick needles in their arm. Often they want to live differently, but the desire for their fix is too strong for them to agree to any steps to recovery. They don't need jail, but they do need to be in a place where access to opioids is cut off. When cops and medics respond to an overdose and save the victim, that person should be immediately arrested for possession, processed in through the regular jail system, and then sent to a facility as soon as possible under court ordered committal. Their real problem is a mental health issue. Of course we don't have the resources for this, but I think it would be ideal. As it is right now they just get a short stint in jail until their addiction leads them to a more serious crime.

We also need to target the supply line. For one that means better border security (Cartels aren't producing black tar locally). It also means targeting certain doctors who peddle hillbilly heroin (and the like) to their patients. Clear legal guidelines need to be set to determine when a doctor has become an illegal drug dealer. Investigations should be done by a law enforcement agency, not a regulatory one.

All doctors in general need to dial it back on their prescriptions, and not just of opioids. Doctors should be given basic training in spotting patients who are abusing the system and there needs to be a means of reporting suspected abuse without compromising HIPAA.