Durham, United States – July 12, 2019 / Durham Recovery /

Durham Recovery states, “The opioid crisis is worsening. Over 42,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose in 2016, and government and public health officials are scrambling to find effective ways to reverse this frightening trend.”

NSC experts conducted an extensive review of current literature, state legislation and data to create a comprehensive report on the status of the opioid crisis. This report evaluates each state’s progress in fighting this epidemic, based on the actions taken by the states. The states were analyzed on whether they mandated prescriber education, implemented opioid prescribing guidelines, and if prescription drug monitoring programs were implemented in a clinical setting. The report also looks at the treatment of opioid overdoses and availability of opioid use disorder treatment.

The report findings showed only 13 states and The District of Columbia have improved their response to the opioid crisis since 2016. Sadly, eight states earned failing grades.

Durham Recovery added, “Addiction is a chronic disease, like heart disease or diabetes. And, like many chronic diseases, if left untreated addiction will lead to poor health and ultimately death. However, just like heart disease or diabetes, people can recover and lead healthy, successful lives.”

Drug poisoning is now the No. 1 cause of unintentional death in the United States. Every day, more than 100 people die from opioid drugs – 37,814 people every year – and many of these overdoses are from prescription opioid medicines.

People who take opioid painkillers for too long and in doses too large are more at risk of addiction and more likely to die of drug poisoning. The numbers are staggering. A survey by the Substance Abuse and Medical Health Services Administration says there are 4.3 million nonmedical users of painkillers. Nearly 2 million people have painkiller substance use disorders.