Final answer:
To address the opioid epidemic worsened by fentanyl, governments have shifted from criminalizing to medicalizing the problem, increased access to treatment and recovery services, and initiated public health campaigns.
They also increased access to overdose-reversal drugs like Naloxone and implemented aggressive policing of pill mills while improving public health monitoring systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
One major approach has been the shift from criminalizing to medicalizing the issue, recognizing addiction as a health problem rather than solely a criminal one. This perspective encourages supporting those with addiction through medical care and recovery services.
Furthermore, public health campaigns have increased awareness and emphasized the need for treatment, better public health monitoring, and access to overdose-reversal drugs like Naloxone.
Initiatives have also targeted the source of opioids, with aggressive policing of pill mills and reformulation of drugs such as Oxycodone to combat illegal drug supply.
Additionally, access to prescription painkillers has been tightened, although this inadvertently drove some individuals towards illicit opioids, demonstrating the complexity of the crisis. Every demographic has been affected, evidencing the need for widespread and comprehensive solutions.