Blog Two: What Historical Use of Opioids in America Tells Us About the Current Opioid Epidemic

What Insights Can Be Gleaned by Examining the Historical Legacy of Opioids in America to Understand the Present Opioid Epidemic?

        There are distinct and observable trends in opioid use and overdose deaths in the United States that can provide insight into future trends. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three historical "waves" that correlate with rises in opioid overdose deaths.

1). The first wave began in 1999 and involved prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, and methadone (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).

2). The second wave began in 2010 and was due to a rise in heroin injection resulting in overdose deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).

3). The third wave began in 2013 and involved/involves the use of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Fentanyl used illegally is often made illicitly and is mixed with other illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine only increasing the risk of death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).

https://www.cdc.gov/museum/pdf/cdcm-pha-stem-uncovering-the-opioid-epidemic-lesson.pdf

        America is still currently experiencing an opioid epidemic. What have we learned from past epidemics?

🌟End the stigma to help others
🌟Encourage treatment
🌟Know the signs
🌟Know how you can help
🌟Have empathy

References

Uncovering the Opioid Epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/museum/pdf/cdcm-pha-stem-uncovering-the-opioid-epidemic-lesson.pdf