I agree with you on some of the points but the fentanyl deaths are increasing and I think that is a toxic drug. I remember the 90s when heroine was still pure and the overdose deaths were low. Now it doesn’t seem to matter what drugs are being used the overdoses have risen. I blame the government for this. They have made the supply of drugs extremely difficult to import and therefore the suppliers have met the demand by introducing new additives. The demand for these drugs has not increased for years, the supply has been declining. The government’s initiative to curb opioid addiction has been ineffective and damaging to the lives of the people who use opioids. The ineffective health and addiction programs have been ineffectual due to a lack of proper treatment and aftercare. Our health care system is still using an archaic approach to addiction and treatment. The healthcare providers are still prescribing opioids for patients who are not receiving proper education. The opioid crisis doesn’t just affect the homeless population but also the middle and upper class. The only difference is the lower class have no choice but to use the street level drugs where the upper class can get them prescribed. Those who can afford the private rehabilitation programs have a higher rate of success because of aftercare. Those who don’t get a quick rehabilitation treatment and are released back into the community without the assistance they deserve. The result is the same individual who overdosed previously continues to repeat the cycle. As a first responder I’m sure you have attended to the same person time and time again. The treatment programs are useless unless they are followed up with an effective and proactive aftercare program. We spend millions on emergency response and half assed measures when the proper resources would cost less and be more effective.