We’ve all heard about the opioid crisis—yet most of us don’t realize how much it has destroyed our nation. The epidemic has ruined communities & torn entire families apart. In light of that, here are 11 facts about the opioid crisis to show you the battle we’re facing and how it affects every single American. Really, we hope that anyone suffering and their loved ones get the help they need. Nobody deserves to suffer from the pain of addiction.
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How It All Began
In the late ’90s, health professionals started handing out opioid painkillers. These professionals thought they were better for tackling pain & Big Pharma supported them by claiming that these meds wouldn’t cause addiction. However, it’s now clear that they were totally wrong. Their decision to prescribe so many pills began an era of widespread misuse. We’re still in the middle of it today and, sadly, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
Prescriptions Galore
The CDC claims doctors wrote about 37.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 Americans in 2023. That’s almost half of all Americans. Although the figure is lower than in previous years, we still have a lot of work to do. Doctors & patients alike need to work out the difference between managing pain & risking addiction. Rather than being the solution to almost every issue, doctors should be more restrictive with whom they prescribe opioids to. At the same time, there needs to be more awareness of addiction issues when people are given these medications.
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The New Big Bad
Fentanyl is stronger & more dangerous than most of us can wrap our heads around. It’s up to 100 times more potent than morphine which is why it’s one of the major factors in the spike in overdose deaths. What’s scarier is that the drug is usually mixed with other drugs. It’ll hurt those who aren’t even trying to take it and they’ll only know once it’s far too late.
Overdose Overload
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Library revealed that opioids were involved in nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in 2020. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl were the biggest killers. Naturally, governments have tried to fix things but it’s clear that it’s not enough. We need more effort to help those with an addiction get the help they need. Similarly, medical professionals also need to be more careful with prescribing medication.
Counting the Cost
The crisis is also hitting wallets hard to the tune of about $1.5 trillion a year, according to the Joint Economic Committee. These expenses include healthcare costs & lost productivity that amount to a huge financial drain. The crisis isn’t simply a health emergency but instead, it’s an economic one as well. The crisis is pulling resources from other important areas & straining budgets even further than they already are. As such, the epidemic is affecting all Americans.
Treatment Hurdles
Getting help isn’t as easy as it should be. Only around 1 in 5 adults with opioid addiction receive the treatment they need, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. We need to make sure people can access the help they need by removing the barriers to treatment. These include a lack of availability, as well as the stigma associated with seeking help for addiction. It really shouldn’t be this way.
Babies in the Crossfire
Opioid use during pregnancy sometimes makes newborns suffer from withdrawal, a condition known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). The rate of NAS, sadly, has increased over the years as these infants start their journey into life with a battle. They have to face challenges that no adult should have to endure—let alone a newborn.
A Fall in Life Expectancy
Believe it or not, one study found that the opioid crisis managed to decrease US life expectancy for a few years. It’s a rare trend that we haven’t seen since the days of World War I & the 1918 flu pandemic and opioid overdose deaths are a big part of why. The stakes are incredibly high. It’s not merely individuals and families directly affected who are suffering. Rather, it’s the entire country that’s feeling the pain and that’s why it’s so important for us to solve this issue.
The Rural Epidemic
Both rural and urban areas have been affected by the crisis although it has hurt rural communities the most. For example, they struggle with access to treatment & healthcare resources to fight back. As such, a singular approach to the crisis won’t work. We need diverse solutions instead to truly help all communities deal with this widespread problem. This should include working out the specific causes of the crisis in certain communities and working to fight these.
Veterans in the Vortex
Our vets are in the thick of this crisis because they have a risk of overdose death that’s twice as high as non-veterans. The pain (both physical and emotional) that comes with serving our country is a contributing factor. They also have to deal with numerous challenges when coming back to civilian life. We have to make sure they have access to the care & support they need. After all, they served our country—surely it’s time that we do our part to serve them as well?
A Nationwide Response
On a brighter note, all 50 states have rolled out prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to keep an eye on opioid prescribing & dispensing. It’s a step in the right direction. The goal is to cut down on abuse and overdose deaths by noticing risky prescribing patterns before they escalate. Hopefully, these proactive measures will make a difference.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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