Arizona inmates exiting prison who have opioid addictions can now be part of a substance abuse program that utilizes the drug Vivitrol. While Gov. Ducey called it a “miracle drug,” some worry Vivitrol is an expensive, understudied quick fix to a much larger problem.

Five Arizona counties lead the state in number of deaths from prescription opioids overdoses, mimicking a trend of opioid abuse nationwide. Data from Arizona Department of Health Services for drug-induced...