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Learn MoreThere is often an ordinary, unremarkable beginning to a life dependent on opioids. Someone might experience a routine surgery or have some kind of accident such as a fall or car crash. Following events like these, a prescription opioid may be prescribed. Due to their profound pain-killing properties and dependence-producing potential, these events can cause patients to become dependent on opioids. The dependence on prescription opioids may subsequently shift to dependence on heroin due to its relatively low cost in comparison to prescribed medication.
“Many factors have intersected to drive the rate and reach of the opioid epidemic. Prescribing practices have played a substantial role, but those practices have been shaped in turn by circumstances ranging from medical issues—increases in chronic diseases, new surgical interventions, professional calls for better pain management—to the influence of market distortions, including misinterpretation of scientific data, introduction of new products, commercial marketing, and large quantities of unused opioids made easily accessible in the home” (National Academy of Medicine, 2017)
These factors, along with the scientific literature perspective that opioids produced low rates of addiction and were relatively safe, have fueled the problem. The tendency to prescribe opioids alongside aggressive marketing approaches has proven to accelerate our nation’s dependency on opioids.
What is the Magnitude of the Problem?
Opioids are very effective for treating pain. They can be used effectively but when used improperly can produce serious harm including overdose as well as potential dependence (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2017).
Approximately 65,000 individuals in the U.S. died in 2016 due to drug overdose, which represents a dramatic 21% increase from 2015. The opioid crisis is largely responsible for the increase—for example, two thirds of overdose deaths are associated with opioid misuse. Surprisingly, about half of all opioid overdose deaths are related to medications from prescriptions (National Academy of Medicine, 2017).
In only a few years of being available, Fentanyl has become the leading overdose killer in the U.S. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times stronger than heroin and morphine, and other synthetic opioids, killed over 21,000 people in 2016 (Vergano, 2017). The problem is so severe that the opioid crisis has become a national emergency. As of October 2017, “President Donald J. Trump is mobilizing his entire Administration to address drug addiction and opioid abuse by directing the declaration of a Nationwide Public Health Emergency to address the opioids crisis (The White House Office of the Press Secretary, 2017).”
How Does Opioid Use in the U.S. Compare to Use in Other Countries?
According to the International Narcotics Control Board, if the amount of opioids prescribed per year were averaged out over each person living in America, everyone would get about a two-week supply—a rate that’s considerably higher than anywhere else in the world.
This blog post excerpts an article By Randy Carden Ed.D., Senior Research Consultant, HealthStream, in our complimentary eBook about Threats to Healthcare, Workforce Readiness: Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Unknown. Download it here.
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2017). Opioid Misuse Strategy 2016. CMS. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/CMS-Opioid-Misuse-Strategy-2016.pdf
National Academy of Medicine. (2017). First do no harm: Marshaling clinician leadership to counter the opioid epidemic. Washington: National Academy of Medicine. Retrieved from https://nam.edu/first-no-harm-nam-special-publication/
The White House Office of the Press Secretary. (2017). President Donald J. Trump is taking action on drug addiction and the opioid crisis. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/10/26/president-donald-j-trump-taking-action-drug-addiction-and-opioid-crisis
Vergano, D. (2017). Fentanyl is now the leading cause of US overdose deaths. BuzzFeed News. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/danvergano/fentanyl-leading-overdoses?utm_term=.orMOxe6QY#.xg4wK0jLV
HealthStream’s learning management system and healthcare training solutions support medical training initiatives and allow for the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
View All Quality & ComplianceBe confident in your staff’s ability to reduce risk by providing compliance training that changes behavior.
View All ProductsDevelop next-level people for next-level care by prioritizing quality and safety improvements.
View All ProductsEstablish a culture of belonging with education supporting DEI, wellness, engagement, and leadership development.
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View All ReimbursementExpand the decision-making skills and effectiveness of your healthcare workforce with HealthStream's clinical development programs and services.
View All Clinical DevelopmentLearn about our advanced resuscitation training solutions. Our solutions are designed to help improve patient outcomes.
View All ProductsOur competency development solutions personalize learning for clinicians to bridge the gap between theory and practice for your nurse residents.
View All ProductsEnhance maternal & child nursing care with solutions focused on improving the quality of care for mothers, infants, and children.
View All ProductsAddress staffing orientation challenges to easily achieve and maintain certification with our emergency and acute care training solutions.
View All ProductsAs a premier provider of healthcare education, we are committed to promoting safer, more successful surgical and sedation outcomes for each and every patient.
View All ProductsOur solutions are designed to cater to the needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and organizations dealing with illnesses or chronic conditions.
View All ProductsOnline clinical placement software allows schools, healthcare organizations, and students to seamlessly manage clinical and nursing rotations.
View All ProductsComprehensive, industry-leading provider onboarding and credentialing software that validates health outcomes and supports provider assessment.
View All CredentialingOur affordable CVO credentialing services establish patient safety by enabling primary source verification for your healthcare organization.
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