In 2001, the production of opium poppy farms in Afghanistan is at an all time high while under the supervision of the British military. 90% of the world's opium, an increase of 15%, of the world's opium is now being grown in Afghanistan. With such an increase of opium all of a sudden being produced came a understandable assumption that there would be a significant increase of heroin hitting the city streets. Many politicians, law officials and such began to do what they could to minimize the damage this extra heroin would dispense within society. Weeks turned into months, months into years and "surprisingly" no signs of substantial heroin abuse were occurring. The price of heroin on the streets didn't change a single bit indicating that for the most part, there wasn't an additional weight of the drug. It's simple. The more available a drug is on the streets lessens it's monetary value, for the most part. So with an increase as staggering as 15% of opium being produced in Afghanistan and no more or less heroin on the streets, one can't help to as wonder, "Where is all this opium going?"
Opium is not only the key ingredient in heroin but also in most of the prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Morphine. Although these drugs are legal when prescribed by a physician, they have ruined many people's lives that have become addicted to them like a heroin user is to heroin. This has been the case for several decades, however, over the last decade study after study is showing an extremely troublesome trend that is increasing every moment. More and more people, from all walks of life, are becoming addicted to painkillers, primarily OxyContin, also known as "Hillbilly Heroin". North American society over the last ten years has developed an enormous problem that I refer to as the "Oxy Epidemic" and I believe that it wasn't an "accident". This quick timeline shows a very disturbing pattern. In 1996, a pharmaceutical manufacturer by the name of Perdue Pharma introduced OxyContin to the medical community. With false graphs and forged scientific documents they presented the drug as being a safe, effective painkiller to doctors across North America. They claimed that it was a lot less habit forming than other painkillers and a safer alternative than their competitors. With this misinformation, doctors began prescribing it to patients left and right. After the British Military took responsibility of the opium farms in Afghanistan and the production of opium increases by 15%, there was no evidence of an increase of heroin on the streets however the "Oxy Epidemic" increases rapidly. In 2007, Perdue Pharma pled guilty to the false information presented and were forced to pay over 700 million dollars in restitution. Not long after, it was proven that OxyContin in fact contained at least twice as much opium as the other painkillers on the market! Could that be where all the opium is going? It would make sense. However, one thing doesn't make sense to me. What is it about OxyContin that creates such a strong addiction. It is more than just the fact that they contain twice the opium. There is something else contained within that poison and I would be lying if I knew what it was. It will sure be interesting trying to find out.
