A recent update from the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows that Kansas had 146 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016, a rate of 5.1 deaths per 100,000 people, and that's a little over 8 points below the national rate of 13.3. Opioids include pain pills and street narcotics such as heroin.

It's small towns and counties that are bearing the brunt of the cost. Packed jails, increased ambulance runs, overworked coroners, sheriffs deputies and public defenders are just a few of the consequences. The first to go to trial in the sweeping legal action against the opioid industry are local governments in Ohio and West Virginia that are particularly hard hit.