Indeed. I work at a local clinic and see the fallout of the opioid crisis on a daily basis. I'm always surprised how the Opium Wars seldom comes up in these discussions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War

Opioids are quite effective at coaxing a population into complacency. Unless the government intervenes, I don't see the problem slowing down anytime soon. As someone else pointed out, the lobbyists are very influential...