The story traces the evolution of the nation’s opioid epidemic–from prescription painkillers to heroin–through the lens of an opioid clinic in West Virginia, which for the past several years has had one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the nation. By examining the history of drugs like OxyContin, the article shows how prescription painkillers flooded this state and others, and how widespread addiction to the medications gradually morphed into the resurgence of heroin. Through interviews with local law enforcement, it shows how the crackdown on pill mills and unscrupulous doctors spurred painkiller addicts to turn to heroin for a cheaper, more accessible high. Like those in many areas around the country, West Virginia doctors and narcotics officers now say they’re witnessing a heroin crisis unseen since the 1980s. Finally, the stories of the patients at the clinic show how challenging it is to make a full recovery from opioid addiction.
