The Unique Challenges of the Fentanyl Epidemic

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 107,477 drug-related deaths occurred from August 2021 to August 2022, with the majority attributed to the potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl. These provisional estimates reflect a modest (2.57%) decrease from the previous year, defying an increasing trend that has persisted for the last 20 years where opioids have been the primary driver of overdose deaths. Through its evolutions, the current opioid epidemic has proven to be an ever-moving target, and there’s much we still need to learn in order to curb fentanyl exposure and overdose. The origins of the current opioid epidemic are now well known. In the early 90s, the liberal prescribing of opioid analgesics led to widespread availability and diversion of opioids like oxycodone. Some of those exposed to prescription opioids developed opioid abuse and dependence, which we now refer to as opioid use disorder. Many of those affected began with prescription opioids later transitioned to heroin, which was cheaper and increasing in purity. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Accordingly, in 2010, we began to see a rise in heroin-related overdose deaths. The steepening climb in opioid overdose death rates, along with the increasing mortality gap among white, working-class Americans, put opioid use disorder at the forefront of the national agenda. Billions in treatment and research funding were allocated to combating the epidemic, and compassion fo...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized freelance health Source Type: news