opioids
Opioid use disorder related to prescription pain relievers affected an estimated 1.9 million people in 2014. From 2000 to 2015, more than a half million people died from drug overdoses. Every day, 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose.
Prescription opioids are a driving factor in the rising rates of opioid overdose deaths. Deaths from prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999. This trend can only be reversed with collaboration from health care systems and their patients. Hospitals and health systems are partnering with patients, families and communities to prevent misuse by improving opioid prescribing practices, to reduce exposure to opioids by using alternative therapies and to treat opioid use disorder with evidence-based therapy.
The resources below will help hospitals, health systems, health care providers and patients meet the goal of safe pain management.