The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that has been sweeping the United States for more than two decades. It is characterized by a sharp increase in the addiction to and misuse of opioids, including prescription opioids and illegal opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. In 2022, there were nearly 110,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. involving an opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This ongoing crisis demands immediate attention and a comprehensive solution.