NARRATOR: Fentanyl was first created in Belgium in 1960.

旁白：芬太尼於1960年在比利時首次被創造出來。

[music]

[音樂]

NARRATOR: It was designed for use in surgery

它是為外科手術設計的。

and to treat the most severe forms of pain.

並治療最嚴重的疼痛形式。

Over time, American pharmaceutical companies

隨著時間的推移，美國製藥公司

found a profitable way to market related opioid medications

找到了一種有利可圖的方式來銷售相關的阿片類藥物。

outside hospital settings.

醫院以外的環境；

Since I've been on this new pain medication

自從我吃了這種新的止痛藥之後

I have not missed one day of work,

我沒有錯過一天的工作。

and my boss really appreciates it.

而我的老闆真的很欣賞它。

NARRATOR: Prescription surged, and patients

旁白：處方藥猛增，患者

were reassured that the risk of addiction was low.

確信吸毒成癮的風險很低。

Less than 1% of patients taking opioids actually

服用阿片類藥物的患者中，只有不到1%的人實際服用了阿片類藥物。

become addicted.

成癮。

NARRATOR: They were very wrong.

他們大錯特錯。

As fatal overdoses skyrocketed, doctors made prescription

隨著致命的過量用藥量急劇上升，醫生們開出了處方藥。

opioids harder to get.

阿片類藥物更難得到。

Addicts turned to heroin, and the crisis got worse.

吸毒者轉而吸食海洛因，危機更加嚴重。

Then in 2015, fentanyl emerged on the black market

然後在2015年，黑市上出現了芬太尼。

in a big way.

在很大程度上。

Potent, cheap, and readily available on the streets

強效、廉價、在街上很容易買到。

without a prescription.

沒有處方。

In the US, overdose rates exploded to record highs.

在美國，用藥過量率爆表，創下歷史新高。

But here in Mexico, fentanyl became a boon

但在墨西哥，芬太尼卻成了一種恩惠。

to the underworld economy.

到黑社會經濟。