The author discusses opioid addiction in the U.S. which is largely fueled by illicit drugs. He points out that almost 2 million Americans have opioid addiction problems that began with prescription pain relievers. He refers to findings by Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, Emma McGinty and Colleen Barry that the socioeconomic status of a woman with opioid pain reliever addiction during pregnancy also matters for how the public views the blaming of addicts and the appropriate policy response.