In 2023, the opioid crisis claimed over 100,000 lives. That’s one family without a mom or dad, a brother or sister, a niece or nephew, or a close friend, fiancé, husband, or wife. One hundred thousand people dead. What’s the cost of leaving countless families in mourning, dealing with the aftermath of trauma and grief? Naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, costs $25 per dose. Pharmaceutical companies manufacturing Naloxone made $1.5 billion from that drug alone, potentially saving over 100,000 lives with an investment of $2.6 to $3 million. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.2%, the makers of Naloxone are projected to reach $2.75 billion in revenue by 2031. Is spending $3 million worth the investment to save lives?

McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, the largest pharmaceutical corporations producing opioids, made over $740 billion in 2023 (McKesson: $276.7 billion; Cardinal: $205 billion; Amerisource: $262.2 billion). If each one spent just 0.78% of their revenue to provide every person in the United States with one dose of Naloxone, countless lives could be saved. Are human beings worth less than a percent of the profit?

The Trump administration is cutting 70,000 to the Veteran’s Administration (VA), further exacerbating the issue. Since the end of the Vietnam War, 60,000 Vietnam veterans have died by suicide, adding to the 58,000 who died throughout the war. U.S. military deaths from that war totaled 118,000, surpassing the number of opioid overdose deaths. The Trump administration has announced that 70,000 employees of the VA will lose their jobs, which is sure to impact these and other veterans needing both physical and mental health treatments. Mental health in the military is a significant concern, yet funding cuts undermine efforts to provide necessary support to veterans.

Human life must be valued above monetary gains. The cost of Naloxone is minimal compared to the potential to save lives. Pharmaceutical companies manufacturing opioids have both the financial capacity and responsibility to make a substantial impact because only people who are alive can purchase their drugs. Similarly, the government must prioritize funding for the VA to address the mental health needs of veterans. These individuals have served their country and deserve comprehensive support.

The opioid crisis and veteran suicides highlight an urgent need for a shift in priorities. Investing in life-saving measures and mental health support is not just a moral obligation but a societal necessity. Human beings are worth far more than $25 per person. Now is the time for our government to push pharmaceutical companies to recognize the intrinsic value of human life and take decisive action to save lives and support those in need.