January 30, 2017

Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015

The CDC reports "The ongoing epidemic of opioid deaths requires intense attention and action. In a November 2016 report, the Drug Enforcement Administration referred to prescription drugs, heroin, and fentanyl as the most significant drug-related threats to the United States.The misuse of prescription opioids is intertwined with that of illicit opioids; data have demonstrated that nonmedical use of prescription opioids is a significant risk factor for heroin use, underscoring the need for continued prevention efforts around prescription opioids. Intensifying efforts to distribute naloxone (an antidote to reverse an opioid overdose), enhancing access to treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, and implementing harm reduction services are urgently needed. It is important to focus efforts on expanding opioid disorder treatment capacity, including medication-assisted treatment and improving linkage into treatment."

 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm655051e1.htm?s_cid=mm655051e1_w