Opioid abuse has increased sharply over the past few years, with the rate of overdose deaths nearly quadrupling since 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. A large proportion of overdose deaths are related to prescription painkillers. Now, a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sheds […]
First comes one report on the news, followed by another, and another. When one person dies from an opioid overdose, more people seem to follow. With our nation, currently, in the throes of an opioid epidemic, these clusters of opioid overdose deaths seem to be emerging more frequently. So why do deaths often seem to […]
The opioid epidemic has been splashed across major newspapers and television networks. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warns that 44 people die each day because of opioid overdose. Thousands more across the country are affected by the opioid epidemic in other ways. Now, the American Medical Association has presented a possible solution […]
The United States is facing an opioid epidemic of unprecedented proportions. Of the 47,055 lethal drug overdoses that occurred in the U.S. in 2014, 18,893 were related to prescription pain relievers while 10,574 were due to heroin, according to figures from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. A number of factors are contributing to this […]
Healthcare Triage dedicated four episodes on the topic of opioids. The videos are hosted by Dr. Aaron Carroll. In the videos, he discusses various topics ranging from the history of opioids, the science of opioids, the epidemic of opioid abuse, and possible treatment options for opioid addiction. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a patient […]
According to the CDC, the U.S. death rate for 2015 increased for the first time in a decade. Although it remains too soon to know the exact cause of the uptick in mortality, many researchers believe that the opioid epidemic is to blame. Thus, opioid overdose deaths continue to rise at a rapid rate, with […]
The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, and the media has been reporting on the problem. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misconception about patterns of opioid use, the difference between opioid addiction and dependence, and what is considered opioid use disorder. Understanding these distinctions is essential to make informed policy […]
The opioid problem in the United States has officially reached epidemic proportions. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in this country, reports the American Society of Addiction Medicine, an opioid-related overdoses represent the vast majority of these deaths. This has led many people to wonder, “Why are overdoses more frequent with opioids?” […]
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 […]
