Almost any drug would have been better as long as the supply was clean and stable. Even heroin can be used intravenously for decades as long as proper caution

Almost any drug would have been better as long as the supply was clean and stable. Even heroin can be used intravenously for decades as long as proper caution is observed, but that tends to become a low priority if availability and thus price fluctuates. If quality fluctuates, death by overdose is a matter of time. The opioid epidemic is no joke, but it took a turn for the worse once doctors stopped prescribing opioids and supplies dried out, making people pay inflated prices and/or switch to fentanyl. At least alcohol is available, so people don’t drink mouthwash.