The United States is in the midst of a public health crisis in part stemming from the abuse of prescription opioids. In the past fifteen years, the number of drug overdoses in the U.S. has nearly tripled, resulting in 52,404 deaths in 2015 alone. Over 63% of these drug overdoses were from opioids (Source: CDC MMWR).
Hospitals across the country stand on the front line against the epidemic, treating both emergency overdoses and addiction-related conditions. The national rate of opioid-related inpatient stays rose 64.1% between 2005 and 2014, while the rate of ED visits due to opioids increased 99.4% (Source: AHRQ).
The opioid epidemic is a complex public health problem. Solutions to curb the rising opioid addiction levels will require interventions from a team of providers, prescription prescribers, EMTs, communities, and local and federal governments.
To help advance your efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, our experts have compiled our leading resources on how hospitals and health systems can play an active role in treating opioid addiction and preventing further increase in opioid abuse.
Advisory Board resources:
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Reducing Opioid Use and Abuse
Learn three imperatives to guide hospitals and health systems in their efforts to reduce the impact of inappropriate opioid prescribing and misuse.
Download the research report
Only you can help confront the opioid epidemic
Use this infographic to learn how senior executives can help confront the opioid epidemic.
View the infographic
Daily Briefing articles:
The states with the most opioid painkiller users
A CDC report shows that states where doctors wrote the most opioid prescriptions were also the states with the most painkiller overdose deaths.
Read the post
The staggering increase in ED visits and admissions related to opioids
New data shows a steady increase in overdose-related deaths since 2000.
Read the article
We're underestimating the toll of opioid overdoses, CDC says
Approximately 91 people die from an opioid drug-related overdose each day in the United States, but that estimate is likely low.
Read the article
Combatting the epidemic: How these providers are reducing opioid usage
Learn how three hospitals and health systems are rethinking how they treat patients in pain in light of the continuing U.S. opioid epidemic.
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Opioid misuse often starts at the hospital. Here's how providers are fighting back
To combat the opioid misuse epidemic, some hospitals are holding off on traditional, opioid based methods of pain relief in favor of non-addictive alternatives—and discovering some unintended benefits in the process.
Read the article
Map: The states with the most opioid-related ED visits
Rates of opioid-related ED and inpatient visits skyrocketed between 2005 and 2014, with Massachusetts posting the highest rates in the country as of 2014.
Read the article
Beyond Advisory Board:
About the Opioid Epidemic
HHS
The Department of Health and Human Services compiled a U.S. Opioid Epidemic resource page, including resources for health professionals.
Visit the page
Opioid Overdose Epidemic
CDC
See opioid related resources and guidelines for prescribing opioids from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Visit the page
Ending the Opioid Epidemic: New Patient Education Tool and Other Resources for Hospitals
AHA and CDC
These resources are designed to help facilitate discussions between health care providers and patients about the risks and side effects of opioids, as well as alternatives to opioids.
Download the resources
Rx Awareness
CDC
This ad campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with prescription opioids through real-life accounts from individuals who have lost loved ones to opioid overdose, as well as those who are personally recovering from opioid use disorder.
Visit the page
Topics
Performance Improvement
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Quality
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Care Management
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Methodologies
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Mortality
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Outcomes
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Emergency Department
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Service Lines
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Population Health
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Market Trends
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Strategy
Next, Check Out
Map: The states with the most opioid-related ED visits
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