Partnering Together to Prevent Overdose

"Learn about emerging trends and strategies to prevent opioid overdose.

The opioid overdose epidemic continues to evolve. Increasingly, deaths involve synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) and mixing other drugs (e.g., cocaine and methamphetamine).

 Strength in Partnerships

CDC encourages collaboration to address the epidemic. CDC published the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in 2016 to improve the way opioids are prescribed. Clinical resources for healthcare providers and interactive online trainings can help providers implement the guideline.

CDC shares online and printable resources to keep patients, families, and communities informed. State and local partners can use CDC’s Rx Awareness Campaign which uses real life stories to help communities understand the crisis. Campaign materials are adaptable and shareable through platforms including social media, billboards, and videos.

CDC partners with and supports states through the Opioid Prevention in States (OPIS) program. This program helps states enhance surveillance, develop data-driven initiatives, and adopt evidence-based strategies. Activities include increasing naloxone availability, access to medication-assisted treatment, public health and public safety partnerships, and health system linkages to care and harm-reduction services..."
Overdose

Helping Communities Take Action Against Opioid Crisis

"CDC is addressing the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic by working with communities to improve data collection and to implement evidence-based prevention strategies.

CDC provides the latest information to help prevent prescription and illicit drug overdoses in communities across the country. Awareness activities in August and September highlight the importance of strengthening the fight against opioid overdose.

August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event that aims to raise awareness of drug overdose and to reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week, which takes place on September 17th through 23rd, is a week to remember individuals, families, and communities impacted by the opioid overdose crisis. CDC observes these events by sharing resources for individuals and communities that increase awareness, help improve response, and emphasize the message that we must work together to prevent overdose deaths and save lives..."
Opiods

The Opiod Crisis and Economic Opportunity: Geographic and Economic Trends

"This study examines relationships between indicators of economic opportunity and the prevalence of prescription opioids and substance use in the United States. Overall, areas with lower economic opportunity are disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. However, the extent of that relationship varies regionally.

(1) The prevalence of drug overdose deaths and opioid prescriptions has risen unevenly across the county, with rural areas more heavily affected. Specific geographic areas, such as Appalachia, parts of the West and the Midwest, and New England, have seen higher prevalence than other areas.

(2) Poverty, unemployment rates, and the employment-to-population ratio are highly correlated with the prevalence of prescription opioids and with substance use measures. On average, counties with worse economic prospects are more likely to have higher rates of opioid prescriptions, opioid-related hospitalizations, and drug overdose deaths.

(3) Some high-poverty regions of the country were relatively isolated from the opioid epidemic, as shown by our substance use measures, as of 2016..."
Opiods and economics

Fighting Opioid Overdose

"The opioid overdose epidemic is devastating families and communities across America. Whether you’re a professional working in preventing drug abuse or treating addiction, or a healthcare provider, first responder, or law enforcement officer the opioid epidemic is likely affecting you, someone you love, or your community. No matter who you are, our goal is the same—to end the opioid overdose epidemic currently ravaging the United States...

Do you know about the opioid overdose epidemic?

According to the most recent CDC data, we know that most drug overdose deaths in the United States involve an opioid. Some numbers to know are:

• Opioids were involved in more than 33,000 deaths in 2015.
• Sixty three percent of drug overdose deaths in 2015 involved an opioid.
• Every day, 91 Americans die from an opioid-related overdose.
• The number of overdose deaths involving opioids has quadrupled since 1999.
• Heroin-related overdose deaths increased by 21 percent from 2014 to 2015.
• In 2015, 12,989 people died from a heroin-related overdos..."

Opiods

Increases in Drug and Opioid Overdose Deaths — United States, 2000–2014

"The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose (poisoning) deaths. Since 2000, the rate of deaths from drug overdoses has increased 137%, including a 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (opioid pain relievers and heroin). CDC analyzed recent multiple cause-of-death mortality data to examine current trends and characteristics of drug overdose deaths, including the types of opioids associated with drug overdose deaths. During 2014, a total of 47,055 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, representing a 1-year increase of 6.5%, from 13.8 per 100,000 persons in 2013 to 14.7 per 100,000 persons in 2014. The rate of drug overdose deaths increased significantly for both sexes, persons aged 25–44 years and ≥55 years, non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, and in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States. Rates of opioid overdose deaths also increased significantly, from 7.9 per 100,000 in 2013 to 9.0 per 100,000 in 2014, a 14% increase. Historically, CDC has programmatically characterized all opioid pain reliever deaths (natural and semisynthetic opioids, methadone, and other synthetic opioids) as "prescription" opioid overdoses (1). Between 2013 and 2014, the age-adjusted rate of death involving methadone remained unchanged; however, the age-adjusted rate of death involving natural and semisynthetic opioid pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids, other than methadone (e.g., fentanyl) increased 9%, 26%, and 80%, respectively. The sharp increase in deaths involving synthetic opioids, other than methadone, in 2014 coincided with law enforcement reports of increased availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, a synthetic opioid; however, illicitly manufactured fentanyl cannot be distinguished from prescription fentanyl in death certificate data. These findings indicate that the opioid overdose epidemic is worsening. There is a need for continued action to prevent opioid abuse, dependence, and death, improve treatment capacity for opioid use disorders, and reduce the supply of illicit opioids, particularly heroin and illicit fentanyl..."
Overdose deaths