There is one of the biggest opioid crisis in modern-day America. From overprescribing pain medication that leads to addiction, which later leads to dependency on that drug or others. Many professional athletes have suffered because of the team doctors over-prescribing them these pills in order to make them "go another yard, round or inning."

For many regular men and women, these drugs allow them relief from the pain of a car accident or procedure. This may lead to complications which can lead to chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a persistent pain in the patients' nerves and this can last for years. The sufferers of chronic pain have had their dosages of painkillers like morphine drastically cut making their pain unbearable. The sufferer's ages were cut to combat the opioid epidemic. Though the people that abuse these drugs because of the highly addictive substances are different than the people who are monitored by a support system including their doctors.

Those that suffer from chronic pain due to physical trauma requires certain dosages to even be able to get out of bed in the morning or get up from a chair with some ease. This is a catch-22 because on one side people are dying from constant recreational abuse first introduced by a doctor.

The other side is that people who have experienced this physical trauma need those drugs to get through their day even if it is getting from one room to another with minimal pain it is because of the drugs they are prescribed and take responsibly that they can do so. In many other cases, people have prescribed an opiate in the emergency room and they may not even have an injury that would constitute that type of care.

Many celebrities, as well as professional athletes, have dealt with addiction. Just this past week pop star, Demi Lovato was hospitalized for an opioid overdose. Lovato has struggled with addiction and has been very open about the many demons that lurk in her closet. She had been partying and this had lead to her becoming unconscious and later revived by paramedics with Narcan.

Addiction doesn't have a preferred prey this can literally affect anyone.

You may have had a history of addiction in your family or your favorite football player is speaking out against being over-prescribed medication for minor injuries. Bottom line is that the substance abuse epidemic continues to get worse in America.

Though there are less addictive ways to treat pain such as the use medical marijuana in many states it is still illegal. Marijuana could be the answer to combating this opioid epidemic in our country as a healthier more natural alternative. Americans also need to realize that addiction is a disease and we as people need to treat it as such. Providing treatment plans in the form of therapy and sober living and anonymous meetings. Though the funding for such things is lacking because of the stigma surrounding addiction.

Americans should have compassion for their fellow neighbor and pioneer change in addiction rehabilitation programs across the country. But only time will tell when America is ready to put down the prescription pad and start offering better treatment plans that benefit the mind and body of the addict.