Analyze the complex factors driving the opioid epidemic

Analyze the complex factors driving the opioid epidemic, including overprescribing of opioid medications, pharmaceutical marketing practices, socioeconomic factors, and the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Discuss the public health consequences of opioid misuse, including opioid overdose deaths, infectious disease transmission, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and social disruptions, and explore evidence-based strategies for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), naloxone distribution programs, and policy interventions.