'Poisoning' is a technically accurate diagnostic term for what's happening inside the body. Some medical professionals working in the field say that if we speak about the fentanyl crisis in a more clinical, straightforward fashion, we can see it for what it is: a public health issue that can be addressed through the medical system. The difference in language may seem slight, but it says a lot about how our society differentiates between alcohol users and drug users. When someone takes too much of a drug, we call it an overdose. When someone drinks too much, we call it alcohol poisoning.
