Final answer:
The abuse of artificial narcotics like fentanyl and oxycodone has no simple geographic pattern but can be influenced by prescription rates and availability, with areas having higher access and addiction rates showing a higher concentration of abuse.
The corect answer is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use and abuse of artificial narcotics such as fentanyl and oxycodone is a complex issue and does not have a straightforward geographic pattern of occurrence. It affects all demographic groups across the United States, including various ethnic, age, gender, and socioeconomic categories. However, historical data and patterns suggest that areas with higher rates of overdose by state and access to prescription drugs can influence where abuse is more likely to be concentrated.
In recent years, aggressive policing of pill mills and a scarcity of prescription pain pills due to reformulated drugs like Oxycodone have led to increased street prices. Consequently, those addicted to opioids may turn to cheaper, more dangerous alternatives such as heroin, synthetic opioids like fentanyl, produced in illegal labs. The opioid crisis, which began in the 1990s with the mass-marketing of opioid drugs as non-addictive, has led to rising misuse and addiction rates. The black market for Oxycodone emerged due to tightened controls on opiate prescriptions, pushing users towards heroin and synthetic opioids.
Regions like West Virginia, being a terminus of the 'OxyContin Express', have shown a strong correlation with overdose rates and prescription practices. Additionally, in Florida, pill mills catering to a large elderly population became hubs for opioid distribution, with unscrupulous practitioners over-prescribing to drug dealers. This situation has led to an influx of prescription opioids into the streets, further exacerbating the crisis.