The US Opioid Crisis Continues to Grow In our previous blog Opioid Epidemic, Part 1: The Prevalence of Opioid Use Disorder and Impact of Distressed Communities, we utilized Medicare Part D data (over 40 million enrolled beneficiaries) to highlight the growing prevalence rates across the board in the U.S. In short, the key findings were: Prevalence…
The Growing Opioid Epidemic The opioid epidemic is a serious public health crisis that is affecting the nation’s social and economic welfare. In 2017, opioids were responsible for about 130 deaths per day, more than 47,000 yearly.1 Opioid prescribing rates are three times higher than they were in 1999 while opioid overdoses are an astounding five…
Comprehensive addiction training is rare in American medical education, which denies physicians the necessary diagnostic and communication skills required to treat patients with substance use disorder, according to The New York Times. Here are six things to know: 1. Timothy Brennan, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Chicago-based Mount Sinai Health System, specifically directs an…