Final answer:
Yes, it is true that Oxycodone and Vicodin are expensive while heroin is relatively cheap. This cost difference has contributed to some individuals addicted to prescription painkillers turning to heroin, heightening the opioid crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between prescription painkillers like Oxycodone and Vicodin, and illicit drugs such as heroin is complex and has evolved over time. Rising costs and stricter regulations for prescription opioids have unfortunately led some individuals to seek out cheaper alternatives like heroin. This shift has been a contributing factor to the increase in drug overdoses and the expansion of the opioid crisis.
Oxycodone and Vicodin, which are used to relieve moderate to severe pain, have become more expensive and harder to obtain due to various factors including aggressive policing, reformulation, and FDA recommendations for tighter controls on prescriptions. This scarcity on the streets drove the price up significantly.
As a response to the high costs and scarcity of prescription pain pills, those addicted turned to heroin, which is indeed less expensive. The cost of heroin is typically far below that of the street price of prescription painkillers, with heroin doses costing as little as $5 compared to the $80 or more for a single Oxycodone pill. This switch is exceedingly dangerous, as heroin on the streets is commonly laced with powerful substances like fentanyl, significantly increasing the risk of overdose and death.