Foreword and acknowledgements

On March 16, 2018, Volume 48 The University of Memphis Law Review hosted its annual symposium, The American Addiction: Pathways to Address the Opioid Crisis, at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The symposium analyzed America’s opioid overdose epidemic through a “pathways” approach. Each pathway recognized that the epidemic derives from separate, dueling sources—legal and illegal—and demonstrated opportunities to innovate and intervene where opioids intersect with the law. The legal pathway explored issues relating to pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare providers, payers, and patients. The illegal pathway explored legal issues relating to drug imports, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. The symposium culminated by addressing issues in the public health sphere. The event was designed to empower attendees to channel their passion for change into meaningful legal and policy vehicles because, no matter the source, the epidemic is costing the ultimate price for too many—life.