There may well be some truth to each of these explanations, but they aren't likely to make a big difference in combating the opioid epidemic — and not only because each of them conflicts with the others and is supported by only a portion of the electorate. The deeper reason why they are unlikely to make much of a difference is that all of them see the opioid problem as rooted in economic circumstances when we have ample cause to believe its sources run much deeper.
One might even call them spiritual.
Imagine, for a moment, that addiction is a response to spiritual agony. Then consider the role of substance abuse in our lives.
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