U.S. Opioid Epidemic
Opioids are drugs, such as morphine and heroin, that are naturally derived from the opium poppy plant. They are also a class of strong painkillers that are human-made to mimic the sedative effects of those plant-derived drugs. Common names are fentanyl, OxyContin, and Vicodin. Opioids are prescribed for short term acute pain relief for conditions such as cancer pain, end-of-life care, dentistry and post-surgery care. At lower doses, opioids may make users feel sleepy, but higher doses can slow breathing and heart rate, which can lead to death. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people in the United States died from opioid-involved overdoses.
Starting in the late 1990s, there was a rapid growth in the use of prescription opioids. Once touted as the non-addictive treatment for pain, these drugs were later found to be highly addictive and often led to widespread misuse—these facts minimized by pharmaceutical companies for years. Opioid deaths tripled from 2000 to 2015.
Women—due to factors such as chronic conditions, domestic abuse, and childbirth pain—and adolescents—in part due to sports injuries and dental surgeries—are more likely to be prescribed opioids. Adolescents and young adults are especially susceptible to the effects of opioids because of their undeveloped frontal cortex.
Attention to this epidemic has focused primarily on White suburban and rural communities. Less attention has focused on Black and brown communities which are similarly experiencing dramatic increases in opioid misuse and overdose deaths. The rate of increase among Black and brown populations from drug overdose deaths between 2015-2016 was 40 percent compared to the overall population increase at 21 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.
Resources & Tools
Navigating the Opioid and Substance Use Data Landscape: Strategies to Assemble Data and Bridge Gaps
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by IP3
Published on 03/07/2022
A Collision of Epidemics: Coronavirus Disrupts Addiction Treatment
Story - Written
Brought to you by CalMatters
Growing Accessibility of Opioids in Rural Areas
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 02/21/2017
Holistic Health and Wellness Expo
Story - Written
Brought to you by KU Center for Community Health and Development: Community Tool Box
Safe Medication Collection
Story - Written
Brought to you by KU Center for Community Health and Development: Community Tool Box
Tackling America’s Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Bipartisan Policy Center Inc.
Maximizing Public Benefit From Opioid Settlement Resources
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Milbank Memorial Fund
Strategies for Effectively Allocating Opioid Settlement Funds
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by RAND Corporation
Addressing Data and Information Gaps Contributing to Opioid Use Disorder
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by Network for Excellence in Health Innovation
Learning The Lessons of Tobacco: A Public Health Approach To The Opioid Settlements
Resource - Blog
Published on 09/26/2019
Legal Interventions to Reduce Overdose Mortality: Naloxone Access and Overdose Good Samaritan Laws
Resource - Fact Sheet
Brought to you by Public Health Law Center
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