Opioid Use Disorder

Despite recent overall decreases in drug overdose deaths, racial disparities are persisting. This, coming against the backdrop of sweeping national opioid settlements, offers a reminder of the enduring potency of systemic racism in the face of what is otherwise a demonstrable public health success. More

People in the United States are dying at record numbers from overdose. Overdose deaths increased from fewer than 17,000 deaths in 1999 to an estimated 100,000 deaths approximately 25 years after, with a peak of almost 108,000 deaths in 2022. Racial/ethnic minoritized groups are now particularly affected: in 2023, the highest rates of overdose were among non-Hispanic Black and American Indian/Alaska Native Americans. Although overdoses increasingly involve both opioids and stimulants, opioids contribute to over three-quarters of all overdose deaths, primarily driven by illegally manufactured synthetic opioids like fentanyl. More

Given common physiological and social changes associated with aging, older adults face greater risks of substance-related harms than do younger adults who experience the same patterns of substance use. More

This Perspective examines the role of Medicaid in the innovation of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. In 2023, an estimated 49 million Americans met criteria for an SUD and more than 100,000 people died of a drug overdose. Compared with the general population, people with SUD experience worse self-rated health, a higher burden of other chronic diseases, and more hospital care. More

Context: Unsafe prescribing practices have been among the central causes of improper reception of opioids, unsafe use, and overdose in the United… More

Context: Opioid treatment agreements (OTAs) are documents that clinicians present to patients when prescribing opioids that describe the risks of… More

In this paper, we summarize past successes, ongoing challenges, and potential solutions to address substance use and overdose in the context of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts. More

As intervention researchers, what do we owe our most vulnerable, most socially marginalized study subjects? These men and women confront the ravages… More

Context: Amid increasing drug use among pregnant individuals, legislators have pursued policies intended to reduce substance use during pregnancy.… More

The impacts and costs of the opioid epidemic in  the United States have been well documented in the popular press, in public health circles, and from local, state, and federal policy perspectives. More