Drug Treatment is Infrastructure COVID-19 was not the only deadly public health crisis of the past year and a half. The overdose epidemic killed a record 93,000 Americans in 2020, ravaging communities across the country, and may be on track to be worse in 2021 . While the nation has combated COVID-19 by prioritizing medical research, vaccine production, treatment development, and implementation of common-sense public health measures, our response to the overdose epidemic has been tragically meager. In this moment of investment in our nation’s infrastructure, it is time for federal, state, and local governments to change course and invest in proven, life-saving public health tools to finally stem the tide of overdoses across the country. It is no mystery what prevents overdose deaths. Studies consistently show that medical treatment and prevention, not punishment , saves lives. Yet, the most effective support for our family members, friends, and neighbors who use drugs are largely u...
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