Doctors must lead us out of our opioid abuse epidemic

by Dr. Sanjay Gupta
June 2, 2016

There is no other medication routinely used for a nonfatal condition that kills patients so frequently. The majority of those deaths result from prescription opioid medications, such as hydrocodone, OxyContin and Percocet.It is so common that specialists even have a profile for the most typical victim: non-Hispanic Caucasian male, mid 30s. Initial diagnosis: back  pain due to trauma, surgery or degenerative arthritis.