Neuroscientist Dr. Carl Hart: People Are Dying in Opioid Crisis Because of Politicians’ Ignorance

Not ignorance, but lack of caring. Their hands are tied as long as the large chunk of donations come from the very manufacturers of the drugs they're supposed to fight. Big Pharma created the opioids (legal ones), then manufacture conditions that "require" them, then support government financially in return for consideration.

Incidentally, alcohol claims more than 5 times the lives each year as opioids, but no one's screaming about that, either. We're way too enamored of our cocktail hours and tailgating parties to confront that drug.