Below you can find a variety of credible resources to learn more about the opioid epidemic. I've included a short description after each resource and a link, if applicable.
Academic Publications and Scholarly Resources
Walley, A. Y., et al. “Opioid Overdose Rates and Implementation of Overdose Education and Nasal Naloxone Distribution in Massachusetts: Interrupted Time Series Analysis.”The BMJ, vol. 346, no. jan30 5, 30 Jan. 2013, doi:10.1136/bmj.f174. The above is one of the most highly cited and decisive research papers within the field. This large, BMJ led study determined that naloxone distribution programs decrease opioid overdose rates and the risk of all-cause death among illicit opioid users.
Evans, William, et al. “How the Reformulation of OxyContin Ignited the Heroin Epidemic.” National Bureau of Economic Research, Apr. 2018, doi:10.3386/w24475. This is a very comprehensive article that provides a history of the opioid epidemic from an economist's point of view.
Weinmeyer, Richard. “Needle Exchange Programs' Status in US Politics.”Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association, American Medical Association, 1 Mar. 2016, journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/needle-exchange-programs-status-us-politics/2016-03. In spite of its title, this article goes into detail regarding a variety of harm reduction techniques and shows how local political forces can completely alter the quantity and quality of addiction resources offered to people struggling in their communities.
The journal Addiction is the oldest and foremost scholarly resource on addiction research. Published monthly, it covers all avenues of research into addiction from developing new medication treatments to how to most effectively provide counseling to addicted persons.
Media Outlets and Nonprofit Organizations
The Harm Reduction Coalition's website is a regularly updated online resource for people wishing to get involved with local volunteer opportunities or to learn more about the struggles that those with opioid use disorders face.
Keefe, Patrick Radden. “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2017, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/30/the-family-that-built-an-empire-of-pain The above is a thoroughly researched and comprehensive article that goes over the early history of the opioid crisis, including an exploration into how Purdue's deceptive marketing campaign resulted in thousands inadvertently becoming addicted to OxyContin.
The website and magazine Addiction Professional is geared towards healthcare professionals working in the field of addiction medicine and contains a wealth of information about treatment options in development and the epidemiology of the opioid epidemic.
Kelvey, Jon. “How Advertising Shaped the First Opioid Epidemic.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 3 Apr. 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-advertising-shaped-first-opioid-epidemic-180968444/ This is a gallery of media and advertisements from the early days of the current opioid epidemic, providing an excellent visual example of how advertising can deceive and influence the behavior of a society.
Joseph, Andrew. “Purdue Pharma Documents Spell out Secretive Executive's OxyContin Role.” STAT News, STAT News/ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2019, www.statnews.com/2019/02/22/a-secretive-billionaires-role-in-promoting-oxycontin-emerges-in-new-documents/ This article is the culmination of a years-long effort by ProPublica and STAT News to uncover sealed documents and transcripts relating to lawsuits filed against Purdue Pharmaceuticals. The documents they were able to uncover tell a story of rampant dishonesty and predatory marketing techniques that capitalized on OxyContin's addictive properties to turn a profit.
McLean, Bethany. “Exclusive: David Sackler Pleads His Case on the Opioid Epidemic.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2019, www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/06/david-sackler-pleads-his-case-on-the-opioid-epidemic This article is a more humanizing look at the Sackler family, who ran Purdue Pharmaceuticals and profited off of OxyContin. It consists of an interview with Richard Sackler's son David Sackler, where he goes into extensive detail about why he does not feel his family is culpable in igniting the opioid crisis.