What can you do about the opioid crisis?

Description

Abstract: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 130 people die every day in the United States from opioid overdoses. As these numbers continue to rise, the situation has gone from being a problem to becoming a full-blown crisis. This article provides an overview of the current situation, noting that, while the causes are complex, there are some steps physicians can take to help. These include following the recommendations in the CDC’s 2016 guideline for the use of opioids for treating acute pain, carefully screening patients in regard to their pain medication history and educating patients on the dangers of opioid addiction.