The Opioid Crisis

In 2016, about 64,000 drug overdose deaths took place in the U.S., the highest total ever recorded. More than 60 percent of those deaths involved opioids. 

“Opioids have caused mass destruction in the U.S.,” says Dr. Andrew Kolodny, co-director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. “More Americans have died from opioids over the last decade than died in [the wars in] Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan combined.”

The devastation has touched every part of the nation, from big cities to tiny rural communities and suburbs like the one where Dustin and Joe lived.

“When people saw these two kids dying from drugs,” says Lisa Manning, “they knew it could just as easily be their sons.”

In 2016, about 64,000 drug overdose deaths took place in the U.S. That is the highest total ever recorded. More than 60 percent of those deaths involved opioids.

“Opioids have caused mass destruction in the U.S.,” says Dr. Andrew Kolodny. He is co-director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. “More Americans have died from opioids over the last decade than died in [the wars in] Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan combined.”

The devastation has touched every part of the nation. That includes big cities and tiny rural communities, and suburbs like the one where Dustin and Joe lived.

“When people saw these two kids dying from drugs,” says Lisa Manning, “they knew it could just as easily be their sons.”

The opioid epidemic has its roots in the late 1990s. That was when powerful new painkillers like OxyContin went on the market. They were meant to help patients—such as people with cancer—manage severe pain.

Pharmaceutical companies marketed the drugs as having a low risk for addiction. In turn, many doctors overprescribed opioids. Some patients became addicted to them.

As Americans’ use of prescription opioids skyrocketed, a black market developed around the drugs for recreational use. The federal government began to tighten restrictions on opioid prescriptions around 2010. But by then countless people were addicted.

Owen Harrison of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was one of them. In eighth grade, Owen was injured at basketball practice. His doctor prescribed opioid painkillers. Owen’s parents gave him only the suggested dosage, but he found even that amount was enough to make him feel high. He soon was hooked. 

Owen battled addiction for the next three years. His grades plunged. He lost friends and fought with his parents. “I was constantly sick and miserable,” he recalls. 

He entered treatment in 2014 and kicked his habit five months before turning 17. “I honestly believe that if I hadn’t, I would’ve died before my birthday,” he says.

Owen Harrison of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was one of them. In eighth grade, Owen was injured at basketball practice. His doctor prescribed opioid painkillers. Owen’s parents gave him only the suggested dosage. But Owen found even that amount was enough to make him feel high. He soon was hooked.

Owen battled addiction for the next three years. His grades plunged. He lost friends and fought with his parents. “I was constantly sick and miserable,” he recalls.

He entered treatment in 2014 and kicked his habit five months before turning 17. “I honestly believe that if I hadn’t, I would’ve died before my birthday,” he says.

Many opioid addicts eventually turn to a cheaper option: heroin. That drug is illegal and, therefore, unregulated. Drug dealers often add other substances to heroin (from rat poison to laundry detergent) in order to sell more of the drug at a lower cost to themselves. That makes the effects of heroin very unpredictable for users. 

In recent years, heroin has become even more deadly as dealers have mixed it with fentanyl, which is 50 times more powerful. “It’s the most dangerous drug I’ve ever investigated,” Major John Merrigan, an 18-year veteran of the Vermont State Police, says of fentanyl.

Many opioid addicts eventually turn to a cheaper option: heroin. That drug is illegal and unregulated. Drug dealers often add other substances to heroin, from rat poison to laundry detergent. This allows them to sell more of the drug at a lower cost to themselves. The additions make the effects of heroin very unstable for users.

In recent years, heroin has become even more deadly as dealers have mixed it with fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin. “It’s the most dangerous drug I’ve ever investigated,” Major John Merrigan says of fentanyl. He is an 18-year veteran of the Vermont State Police.

Most fentanyl in the U.S. is produced in China and transported to Mexico. There, drug cartels add fentanyl to heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine (known as “meth”) to increase the strength of those drugs. Then the cartels smuggle them across the border into the U.S. Drug dealers also use fentanyl to make fake prescription pills that look like the real thing. The pills are then sold on the street.

In most cases, drug users have no idea that what they are taking has fentanyl in it. That is a primary reason overdoses outnumber car accidents as the leading cause of death for Americans under 50.

And overdose victims are getting younger. In 2015, nearly 800 teens died of overdoses. That was about a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The consequences of the opioid crisis go far beyond overdose deaths. For example, pregnant women who use opioids can pass on dependency to their children. In fact, cases of newborns suffering from opioid exposure nearly quadrupled from 2000 to 2012. 

Meanwhile, some child welfare services are at a breaking point as kids are being orphaned or removed from their addicted parents’ care at a shocking rate. In Indiana, for instance, the number of children in foster care has more than doubled over the past three years, in part because of the opioid crisis. 

“It has just exploded our systems,” Marilyn Moores, a juvenile court judge in Indianapolis, told National Public Radio. “We see kids—little, itty-bitty kids—that are found in the backs of cars where parents have overdosed in the front seat.”

All of this takes a heavy economic toll as well. In 2015 alone, the cost of the opioid crisis topped $500 billion, according to a White House report. That figure includes increased health-care costs and law enforcement spending.

The effects of the opioid crisis go far beyond overdose deaths. For example, pregnant women who use opioids can pass on dependency to their children. In fact, cases of newborns suffering from opioid exposure nearly quadrupled from 2000 to 2012.

Meanwhile, some child welfare services are at a breaking point. Kids are being orphaned or removed from their addicted parents’ care at a high rate. In Indiana, the number of children in foster care has more than doubled over the past three years. That is in part caused by the opioid crisis.

“It has just exploded our systems,” Marilyn Moores told National Public Radio. She is a juvenile court judge in Indianapolis. “We see kids—little, itty-bitty kids—that are found in the backs of cars where parents have overdosed in the front seat.”

All of this takes a heavy economic toll as well. In 2015 alone, the cost of the opioid crisis topped $500 billion, according to a White House report. That figure includes increased health-care costs and law enforcement spending.

Last October, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. Attorney General Jeff Sessions assigned 90 federal agents to a new field office to help combat the illegal opioid trade. Trump has also called for reducing the number of opioid prescriptions, tightening drug enforcement on the Mexican border, and enacting tougher punishments for drug dealers—including the death penalty.

Many experts say an effective battle plan against opioids needs to include long-term solutions, such as finding new ways of treating chronic pain and opening more drug treatment centers. 

“We’re going to have to spend a lot of time and money fixing this issue,” says Kolodny. “We need to prevent people from becoming addicted, and when they do, we have to make treatment accessible.”

Last October, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. Attorney General Jeff Sessions assigned 90 federal agents to a new field office to help combat the illegal opioid trade. Trump has also called for reducing the number of opioid prescriptions, increasing drug enforcement on the Mexican border, and enacting tougher punishments for drug dealers. Those punishments would include the death penalty.

Many experts say an effective battle plan against opioids needs to include long-term solutions, such as finding new ways to treat chronic pain and opening more drug treatment centers.

“We’re going to have to spend a lot of time and money fixing this issue,” says Kolodny. “We need to prevent people from becoming addicted, and when they do, we have to make treatment accessible.”

The current focus on combating opioids came too late for the Mannings. The loss of their son is especially tough because, after a few stints in rehab, Dustin seemed close to finally conquering the addiction to meth and other drugs that had plagued him for years. 

The current focus on combating opioids came too late for the Mannings. The loss of their son is very tough because, after a few stints in rehab, Dustin seemed close to finally overcoming the addiction to meth and other drugs that had plagued him for years.

In May 2017, Dustin had just turned 18, earned his high school diploma, and attended the prom with his girlfriend. Clean for several months, Dustin seemed newly optimistic about his future. 

“He was really growing up,” says Lisa Manning. “He talked about learning a trade. He was doing great, then . . . .” 

On the night he died, Dustin snorted meth. His parents are convinced he had no idea the drug was laced with fentanyl. They later learned an amount of fentanyl equivalent to three grains of salt killed Dustin within 20 seconds. 

“He was slumped over,” his mom recalls. “He didn’t even have a chance to lay down.”

Dustin’s tragic death has spurred Lisa Manning to dedicate her life to fighting drug addiction. She is forming a nonprofit called Mission Recovery to provide treatment to minors who struggle with substance abuse. She also speaks publicly about the dangers of fentanyl, warning people that it could be hidden in any illegally obtained drug. 

“I want people to know that this stuff is in everything,” she says. “You’re risking your life trying drugs once.” 

Additional reporting by Sandy M. Fernández

In May 2017, Dustin had just turned 18. He earned his high school diploma and attended the prom with his girlfriend. Clean for several months, Dustin seemed newly hopeful about his future.

“He was really growing up,” says Lisa Manning. “He talked about learning a trade. He was doing great, then . . .”

On the night he died, Dustin snorted meth. His parents are convinced he had no idea the drug was laced with fentanyl. They later learned that an amount of fentanyl equal to three grains of salt killed Dustin within 20 seconds.

“He was slumped over,” his mom recalls. “He didn’t even have a chance to lay down.”

Dustin’s tragic death has spurred Lisa Manning to dedicate her life to fighting drug addiction. She is forming a nonprofit called Mission Recovery to provide treatment to minors who struggle with substance abuse. She also speaks publicly about the dangers of fentanyl. Manning warns people that it could be hidden in any illegally obtained drug.

“I want people to know that this stuff is in everything,” she says. “You’re risking your life trying drugs once.”

Additional reporting by Sandy M. Fernández