Opioid Overdose After Opioid Overdose

Stethoscope, pen and opioid rx on table

An opioid overdose epidemic runs rampant in the United States. Astonishingly, even after surviving an opioid overdose, people still return to opioid use in the future. Ars Technica reports that 91% of patients who survive opioid overdose are prescribed more opioids: “Examining a national database of health insurance claims, researchers found that 91 percent of […]

The Silent Battle of the Opioid Epidemic within the War on Drugs

The Silent Battle of The Opioid Epidemic in the War on Drugs

The United States began the “War on Drugs” in 1971, and the war has never been won. The tactics used have changed depending on the time period and public support for anti-drug measures. However, our country continues to struggle with drug addiction and dependence. Now, the opioid epidemic is the latest chapter in the War […]

The 7 Most Common Questions about Opioids

Common Questions about Opioids: Opioids message bubble word cloud collage

Throughout the United States and other countries, opioids are a growing issue that has sparked many questions. With understanding limited due to the complex nature of opioid addiction, there is a real need for further information on this subject. To truly understand what opioids are and their effects, it is important to answer some key […]

Dental Care and Opioid Use Disorder – A Shocking Connection

Dental Care and Opioid Use Disorder

The opioid epidemic is a complex problem affecting much of America. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 128 people die every day because of opioid overdoses. In 2017, an estimated 1.7 million people fell victim to a prescription opioid use disorder. The opioid crisis has led many healthcare and government leaders looking for […]

Can Opioid Withdrawal be Deadly?

Young woman suffering from a severe opioid withdrawal

Opioid abuse has spiked sharply over the past decade, with more than 72,000 people dying from a drug overdose in 2017. Thousands of people struggle daily with opioid use, yet few get the treatment they need. Additionally, there is a lack of education about the causes and consequences of opioid abuse. In particular, people commonly […]

New Persistent Opioid Use May Develop After Surgery

Three surgeons leaning over with tools in the front

In 2015, 2 million people in the United States had a substance use disorder related to prescription drugs. Many of these individuals first tried opioids when they were legally prescribed in a medical setting. Now, the attention of public health officials has turned to prescribing practices within the medical arena. People have begun to wonder: […]

Understanding the Types and Effects of Opioids and Opiates

Different effects of opiates and opioids

$25.4 billion—that’s how much the global opioid market was worth in 2018. Additional market research projects that opioids will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8 percent between 2019 and 2026—a close match to the projected 2% CAGR of the world’s most popular class of drugs, statins. The reason for incredible value and growth in opioid drug use is because of […]

COVID-19 Causes Opioid Shortage, Creates New Risks

covid and opioid epidemic

COVID-19 Pandemic and Opioid Epidemic The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unexpected consequences for many aspects of society. One of the biggest changes has been the face of the ongoing opioid epidemic. Prior to the pandemic, tackling the opioid crisis was the federal government’s top health priority. Now, all efforts focus on slowing the spread of […]

Opioid Use Disorder and Available Treatment Options

As the opioid epidemic is ravaging lives across our nation, it is also gaining mainstream attention. Opioid treatment options are becoming more available. However, with all the attention directed towards the opioid epidemic comes many questions and misinformation. Families across the country wonder if their loved one suffers from opioid use disorder. Accurately identifying the […]