An Overview Of The Opioid Epidemic

America is in the grip of a devastating Opioid Epidemic. On average, 115 women and men die each day from an Opioid-related overdose.

America’s Opioid Epidemic

America is in the grip of an Opioid Epidemic. On average, 115 women and men die each day from Opioid overdose. In 2017, doctors in the U.S. wrote 191 million Opioid prescriptions for patients. Approximately 66% of drug-related deaths in 2016 were from an Opioid. 197,000 Americans overdosed from prescription Opioids between 1999 and 2016.

The victims of fatal overdoses caused by Opioid Use Disorders are men and women who come from all walks of life. Some who have lost their lives to Opioids are professionals, others are parents, and many are spiritual and nurturing people. What was once called the “War on Drugs” in minority and urban populations in previous decades has now become a public health epidemic mostly affecting suburban communities.

Furthermore, the number of Opioid-related overdoses has increased five times since the late 90s. However, there is great variation between states. For example, Alabama’s rate of written Opioid prescriptions per person is three times that of some other states. By contrast, Hawaii had the lowest rate of written…