Fighting Opioid Addiction in the United States

Fighting Opioid Addiction in the United States There has been a great deal of media attention over the last few weeks regarding death due to heroin and other opioid use. It is important to continue the conversation around the dangers of opioid use and addiction and preventing opioid overdose. According to the latest Behavioral Health Barometer [PDF - 3.4 MB] survey, an estimated 7.3 million individuals in 2012 were dependent on or abused illicit drugs within the year prior to being surveyed—a 2.5 percent increase from 2011. And, it's important to understand that treatment options are available and do work according to the 2011 Opioid Treatment Program Survey [PDF - 1.8 MB], which presents a census of SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment programs in the United States. Educating people on the facts about opioid addiction, the treatment options, and the ways to support local communities is a crucial step in preventing opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Get the Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit, which equips communities with materials to develop policies and practices for first responders, treatment providers, and people recovering from opioid overdose. Looking for something else? Browse among 60 publications related to opioids and opiates