30524 Opioid Epidemic

Course overview

Discussion about the opioid epidemic in the United States. Topics include the severity of the opioid epidemic; the changing landscape of the opioid epidemic; available treatment options to peers and patients; safety and efficacy of treatment options; harm reduction measures; and how to utilize the material covered to advocate for patients and educate medical peers and the lay public. There is also a discussion about how implicit bias may impact healthcare. The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented opioid epidemic. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019. This was followed by a significant increase in 2020 with 68,630 reported deaths and again in 2021 with 80,411 reported overdose deaths. Education regarding prevention and access to treatment for opioid addiction and overdose reversal drugs is critical to fighting this epidemic.