The crack epidemic in the 80s wasn't fentanyl. Whatever its divergent chemical properties, I'd rather address the reason people start using it in the first place. If we don't fix that, then even a magic rehab pill that instantly cures addiction won't have any meaningful impact.
As for "poverty and lack of opportunity" not being a new thing, no shit. But we've seen a hollowing out of the middle class over the past few decades. So a lot of newly impoverished people who grew up middle class, or are else seeing their quality of life decline through no fault of their own. That is relatively new on the scale that we're seeing it.
And I say this as someone who's immediate family has had some past issues with fentanyl addiction, so it's anecdotal, but I'm hardly just speaking from my armchair here.
As for "poverty and lack of opportunity" not being a new thing, no shit. But we've seen a hollowing out of the middle class over the past few decades. So a lot of newly impoverished people who grew up middle class, or are else seeing their quality of life decline through no fault of their own. That is relatively new on the scale that we're seeing it.
And I say this as someone who's immediate family has had some past issues with fentanyl addiction, so it's anecdotal, but I'm hardly just speaking from my armchair here.