Addressing the Opioid Crisis

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With more than 130 people dying every day in the United States due to opioid overdose, addressing the issue of opioid abuse is a serious concern.

Unfortunately, opioid abuse is not just centered around the abuse of illegal drugs. Rather, prescription opioid pain relievers are also abused. In fact, in 2017, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from a substance abuse disorder that was related to prescription opioid pain relievers. Altogether, an estimated 21 to 29 percent of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse the drugs, with between 8 and 12 percent developing a disorder.

Opioid abuse has serious consequences for the abuser as well as for society in general. It has been connected to a rising incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome as well as the increased spread of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total “economic burden” of opioid misuse is $78.5 billion per year in the United States.

To address these concerns, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has identified five major priorities. These include:

  • Improving access to treatment
  • Promoting the use of overdose-reversing drugs
  • Improving public health surveillance
  • Supporting research on pain and addiction
  • Advancing better pain management practices

At Advanced Spine & Rehab, we are committed to helping to fight the opioid crisis. If you or someone you love is abusing opioids, contact us to learn more about our Suboxone treatment program. By combining Suboxone with other forms of therapy, we can help you fight your addiction so you can live a happy, healthy life.

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