Published April 3, 2017
| Version v1
Journal article
Open
Opioid Crisis
Authors/Creators
- 1. Steven Lippmann, M.D, 401 East Chestnut Street, Suite 610, University of Louisville Clinic, Louisville, KY 40202, USA,
Contributors
- 1. #S2, 215, Kavuri Hills Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad-500033, India
Description
Deaths from opioid overdose in the United States doubled between 2000-2014. An increase in prescription opioid drug-induced fatalities parallels a rise in the frequency of these medications being prescribed. Although the number of legal narcotics sold in this country has nearly quadrupled, there is no change reported in the degree of pain Americans experience. Deaths are most common among those opioid users who are drug dependent, even though overdoses occur in medical and non-medical narcotic users who are not addicted.