Summary Of Here Are The Real Culprits By Chris Mcgreal

In Chris McGreal’s “Don’t blame addicts for America’s opioid crisis. Here are the real culprits” and Johann Hari’s “What’s really causing the prescription drug crisis?” both authors inform their readers about addiction. This topic is worthy of discussion because it effects each and everyone one of us whether it be up close or afar. The two authors have similar opinions about the problem of addiction, but offer different ways to cope with it. In the article, “Don’t blame addicts for America’s opioid crisis. Here are the real culprits” by Chris McGreal, America’s widespread opioid problem is discussed. Primarily, McGreal points the finger at multiple sources, such as the FDA, pharmaceutical companies, and the government, for aggravating the
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In other words, McGreal believes that corruption in various organizations created the perfect storm for the deadly opioid epidemic that now exists. Next, the author points out that American healthcare operates like a lucrative industry, which means that profit takes priority over people’s health. The author asserts that patients are given opioids because they are inexpensive, easily accessible, and highly addictive (McGreal). This means that the American healthcare system is driven by profit, and when dangerous opioids are prescribed excessively, individuals and organizations are made wealthy by innocent people’s addiction. Lastly, the author emphasizes that America is prey to this epidemic because our demanding, unhealthy culture believes that medication is the first step to feeling well. The author explains this idea by stating that during this epidemic, as Americans, we have been babied all our lives to the point we believe we should be invincible to everyday problems such
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For starters, Hari discusses how society over the years has made misconceptions about addiction, because of this addicts have been wrongfully treated, and blame was placed incorrectly. The author goes on to explain two different stories; both being well known about the prescription drug crisis. One being the fact that even the most powerful drugs such as diamorphine hasn’t caused addiction (Hari). In fact, that didn’t make sense to Hari on how powerful drugs were used in extreme medical cases and through prolonged use none became addicted. This is one of the misconceptions about addiction. What Hari and his findings concluded about addiction is that addiction doesn’t come from drug hooks, more so the root of addiction is depression and disconnection. “The Canadian physician Gabor Maté argues in his book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” that studies examining the medicinal use of narcotics for pain relief find no significant risk of addiction” (Hari). This being said, what we thought we knew about addiction isn’t correct. During the Gin Craze back in the 18th century an enormous amount of people was driven out of their everyday lives to urban slums, which through all their distressed caused them to drink their selves to death. Even if Gin wasn’t around, they would have found something else to ease the pain of everyday life. But there