The opioid crisis is not infectious, nor is it limited in size (like a community). It's also usually limited in duration (See HIV: 1983 discovered-2018 meds can stop it in it's tracks!) as new drugs are developed. And it's sudden. Nothing sudden bout the opioid crisis, unless decades is "sudden".

That's exactly what I've been saying. You just made my point. It is far worse and has a far greater impact than an epidemic.

Semantics? No. They have different meanings.