I think people are using (what they think is) something else and when the death occurs, the conspiracy is with the coroners (we elect them, folks) that identify the death as 'heroin overdose'
Every drug came and went during the sixties and just as in any capitalist market, popularity was set by the consumer who chose hallucinogens and speed (many different names so I won't even try).
For doojie to suddenly pop up out of nowhere fifty years later, especially with the much better awareness of drug trafficking in America, is to me .. ludicrous
>> I’m not convinced there is a heroin epidemic in America <<
I’m with you. The “facts” about the so-called epidemic just don’t seem to add up to a coherent narrative.
More likely IMHO, what we’re seeing here is yet another over-hyped meme that gets clicks, reads and advertising dollars for the media, plus votes for “populist” politicos.