The National Institute of Drug Abuse provided an update this year on the growing opioid epidemic in the US. Here’s what the NIH knows:
- Roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them.6
- Between 8 and 12 percent develop an opioid use disorder.6
- An estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin.7–9
- About 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.7
- Opioid overdoses increased 30 percent from July 2016 through September 2017 in 52 areas in 45 states.10
- The Midwestern region saw opioid overdoses increase 70 percent from July 2016 through September 2017.10
- Opioid overdoses in large cities increase by 54 percent in 16 states.10
The statistics prove that opioid misuse has risen to a national health crisis. HHS and the NIH have outlined what both agencies are doing to combat the opioid crisis. To learn more, click here.