Search
 
Commentary

Can we solve our opioid issues?

In 2015, 20 million Americans had a substance abuse problem & 2 million involved prescription pain meds.

By Patricia L. Harman | Updated on August 25, 2017
In 2015, physicians wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medications, or enough for every adult in the U.S. to have their own bottle of pills. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Across the country, the use of opioids accounted for 63% of the 52,000 drug overdoses in 2015.

Medications that fall into the opioid category include fentanyl, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone, which are usually prescribed for acute or severe pain due to illness, surgery or accidents.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman is the editor-in-chief of Claims magazine, a contributing editor to PropertyCasualty360.com, and chairs the annual America's Claims Event (ACE), which focuses on providing claims professionals with cutting-edge education and networking opportunities. She covers auto, property & casualty, workers' compensation, fraud, risk and cybersecurity, and is a frequent speaker at insurance industry events. Contact her at [email protected]

More from this author

Recommended Stories

Bank & Capital Markets Tax Institute (BTI) 2024Event

BTI provides leading tax professionals from financial institutions with unmatched tools and resources.

Get More Information
 

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.