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The opioid crisis began in the 1990s with increased marketing of prescription opioid medications and a push for greater pain management. This led to a quadrupling of opioid sales from 1999 to 2010, accompanied by a rise in opioid misuse and overdose deaths1. Between 1999 and 2020, 565,000 Americans died of opioid-involved overdoses.
Around 2010, heroin from Mexico became the predominant source, with increased production ensuring a reliable supply of low-cost heroin. More recently, synthetic opioids like fentanyl have become the most prevalent substances involved in overdose deaths. In 2021, fentanyl accounted for roughly 71,000 overdose deaths, nearly double the rate from 2019.
The crisis has contributed to a historic decline in U.S. life expectancy and generated vast economic and social costs, estimated at $700 billion in 2018. In response, the U.S. government has enacted several laws to address the crisis, such as expanding substance use disorder prevention and treatment, bolstering drug diversion capabilities, and enhancing international drug interdiction efforts.
The opioid crisis has particularly hit the USA and Canada, affecting mostly young and middle-aged adults. In 2019, opioids were responsible for 15.8 and 6.4 deaths per 100,000 people in the USA and Canada, respectively. Measures proposed to tackle the crisis include better drug regulation, education, restrictions on opioid prescription, and promotion of prevention campaigns.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. SAMHSA's National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Data Source:
https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/willianoliveiragibin/drug-overdose-death
License:
CC0: Public Domain
Content Source:
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12260
https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/opioids
https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/connect2health/focus-on-opioids.html
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X%2823%2900131-X/fulltext
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/overview-the-opioid-crisis-in-america/
Image Source:
https://unsplash.com/@whoishaleylawrence