- In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that opioid pain relievers were not addictive for patients, leading healthcare providers to prescribe them more frequently.
- The widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids was driven by the increased prescribing of opioid medications, before it became evident that these drugs could be highly addictive.
- In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency and introduced a five-point strategy to address the opioid crisis.
Understanding the Opioid Crisis
The opioid epidemic has led to severe consequences, including a surge in opioid misuse and overdoses, as well as a growing number of newborns suffering from withdrawal syndrome due to opioid use and misuse during pregnancy.
In 2016, opioid overdoses were responsible for over 42,000 deaths, marking the highest number ever recorded in a single year.
It is estimated that prescription opioids played a role in approximately 40% of these fatalities.