This is really interesting, but it's hard to draw a causal link here. Opioid prescriptions were rising during the same period fentanyl overdoses were flat. And overdoses didn't start to spike until 2015, long after opioid prescriptions were way down. I'm not saying there can't be a causal relationship there, but it's not clear.

That said, yes, addiction and abuse of other, more dangerous drugs are among the risks and long-term implications I'm talking about. I think it's absolutely right that there was a conversation about opioid addiction. Don't you? 7% isn't nothing. But I also think it should be framed in a way that makes it clear that in most cases, opioids aren't addictive. Basically, I'm advocating a clear eyed analysis of the costs and benefits. That's not happening with puberty blockers.