Opioid Crisis Flashcards
What company was primarily responsible for popularizing OxyContin?
Purdue Pharma.
How was OxyContin marketed to doctors?
As a low-risk, non-addictive pain solution.
What major regulatory failure contributed to the opioid crisis?
Lack of oversight and regulation on opioid prescriptions.
What is black tar heroin?
A form of heroin smuggled by Mexican cartels that is thick and sticky, like tar.
What was a “pill mill”?
Clinics that provided easy access to prescription opioids, often without thorough medical assessment.
What is fentanyl?
A synthetic opioid, much stronger than heroin, involved in recent overdose waves.
Where did the Xalisco Boys come from?
A small village in Nayarit, Mexico.
How did the Chinese chemical industry contribute to the fentanyl crisis?
By manufacturing and exporting fentanyl or its precursors to the U.S. and Mexico.
What strategy did Mexican dealers use to minimize legal consequences?
They carried small quantities of drugs and no weapons to reduce penalties.
What were PDMPs?
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, aimed at tracking opioid prescriptions.
How did insurance companies contribute to the crisis?
By covering opioids as a cheaper pain relief method compared to comprehensive therapy.
What is an opioid analog?
A substance with a slightly altered chemical structure similar to fentanyl, often to evade bans.
Why is the distinction between “legal” and “illegal” blurred in the opioid crisis?
Both legal prescription drugs and street drugs had similar effects and addictive properties.
What made fentanyl particularly dangerous?
Its potency, being up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
What is the “chain-like” model of drug distribution compared to?
Fast-food franchises, due to the structured and systematic approach.
