Final answer:
Opioid withdrawal is unpleasant but not typically fatal, in contrast to the high rates of fatal overdoses caused by the opioid epidemic. Methadone and buprenorphine are used to manage withdrawal symptoms. The crisis was exacerbated by restricted access to prescription opioids, leading to the use of more dangerous illegal alternatives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The notion that withdrawal from opioid drugs is often fatal is a misunderstanding. While opioid withdrawal is indeed extremely unpleasant and resembles a severe case of the flu, it is generally not life-threatening. It is known that the body can become addicted to opioid drugs quickly, sometimes in less than a week, including when taken as prescribed. This has contributed to the opioid epidemic, a crisis characterized by high rates of misuse and addiction, leading to a significant increase in overdose deaths.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they are often confused with the original pain that led to the prescription of opioids. Patients may find themselves in a cycle of use to avoid withdrawal symptoms rather than to relieve the original pain. Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to, pain, nausea, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms. To manage these symptoms and assist with detoxification, medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are used under medical supervision.
With the escalation of prescription opioid abuse, the U.S. has seen a transition to illegal alternatives such as heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl due to tighter prescription regulations and the high costs of prescription drugs on the black market. These factors have significantly contributed to the increase in fatal overdoses, particularly as fentanyl and similar substances are extremely potent and carry a high risk of death even in small amounts.