COMMONLIT: The New Painkiller Epidemic
PART A: Which TWO statements best identify the central ideas of the text?
A) Dramatic changes in doctors' approaches to treating chronic pain have led to
an increase in prescription and utilization of dangerous drugs.
B) As OxyContin is only addictive if patients misuse it, it is up to patients to use
prescribed painkillers only as intended by their doctor.
C) OxyContin is an effective means of momentarily treating pain, but eventually
patients are forced to turn to physically addictive drugs to feel the same
effects
D) Prescription companies became aware of the addictive nature of OxyContin
only when it was too late, after they had already been encouraging its
widespread use.
E). The economic decline in the United States encouraged people to seek out
heroin as a form of entertainment and affordable treatment of pain.
F) Chronic pain has worsened over the past few decades, requiring doctors and
patients to seek out more extreme means of pain management.