Are we criminalizing prescription opioid pain killers because we can't stop the trafficking of illegal drugs coming into the US?

The #1 killer on the block ahead of heroin and then other opiods is the 'synthetic opioid' fentanyl. Most of the illicit fentanyl consumed in the United States is imported from China. They have labs that churn out a cheap, crystallized version of the drug and send it to countries across the globe, where it’s mixed with other illicit substances to boost their potency. Do you think the totalitarian government of China is unaware of these fentanyl labs? Remember the 'Opioid war' perpetrated on China by the British East India Company resulting in an estimated 10-12 million opium addicts? China knows a thing or two about opioid addiction.

The politicians and the CDC blame pharmaceutical manufacturers of prescription pain killer opioids like oxycontin, oxycodone, Vicodin, morphine etc., they have blamed physicians for over prescribing (some rightly so) and they have succeeded in punishing people who need pain medication by increasing barriers to access in the name of 'the opioid crisis'. Why hasn't all this solved the problem?

To rehabilitate drug users we provide them different drugs and when that doesn't work and they return to or turn to heroin. We supply them needles and bleach to decrease transmission of blood-borne pathogens like HIV and Hepatitis C, offer sites for needle disposal and suggest offering places to safely 'shoot-up'. This hasn't solved the war on 'the opioid crisis'.

I think of this more as a social crisis fueled by 'kids just want to have fun', to huge numbers of people suffering from the mental health issues like depression and anxiety and a rapidly changing world. Why haven't we invested in reviving our mental health system which would include drug addiction treatment?

But a big concern in my mind is how and when are our politicians going to target the illegal drug flow into the US? Before someone says China is doing this because of the trade war tariffs you'd be wrong because it started long before that. I'm not saying prescription drugs didn't play a part in this issue but I am saying this is the issue not being addressed Why?