Like in the U.S., the problem has hit the country’s poorest areas the hardest. One region of Tasmania _ Australia’s poorest state _ has more opioid prescriptions than people. Carmall Casey was suffering from crippling knee pain when doctors gave her an opioid. She said the first patch on her skin, it felt like heaven. But the agony eventually returned, so the doctor upped the dosage. The side effects were hell _ depression, anxiety, panic attacks. And her pain got worse.
For more on the AP’s Global Opioids series: www.apnews.com...