The Opioids Crisis: An Overview

Course overview

The Opioid epidemic and crisis have dominated the headlines for years now as the public, press and government agencies catch up to what is happening in the homes and EDs across the country. It became apparent to most emergency physicians that trouble had arrived in a big way, as more patients presented with drug-seeking behaviors, complications from addiction, and overdose deaths from pills and heroin. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. - this includes all drugs, not just opioids. As of 2016, the CDC reports that there are an average of 115 opioid OD deaths every day. In this course, we will present an overview of the opioid crisis, including the financial and productivity impact of opioids, as well as the trends and liabilities of opioid prescribing. Strategies to reduce harm and non-opioid alternatives in patient treatment will be covered. After completing this activity, practitioners should be able to: assess the current trends in opioid use/misuse and heroin abuse; list alternatives to opioid therapy in clinical practice; outline strategies to reduce harm from opioid prescribing and abuse; and interpret the liabilities associated with opioid prescribing.