The opioid crisis has ravaged the United States, claimed lives, and devastated many families and communities. Despite the steep decline in opioid prescriptions in the U.S. in the last few years, opioid-related mortality overall is higher than ever, and still rising. More than 100,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses in the year ending in April 2021 (N Engl J Med 2022;387:2011-3). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating rates of mental illness and social isolation, compounded by limited access to preventative care, have also contributed to the continued increase in substance use disorders (SUD) and overdose deaths. In response to widespread debate about the 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opioid prescribing guideline, a revised draft guideline was released in February 2022 for public comment, and a final version was published on November 4, 2022 (asamonitor.pub/3mbLWqY; asamonitor.pub/3KG9NcA).
Excess opioid prescriptions in the U.S. in...
