Tag: Opioid crisis

Overdose death rates among non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons increased by 44% and 39% respectively between 2019 and 2020, signaling a significant shift in who is the target population for the opioid crisis. This evolving public health emergency, initially focused on white rural populations, now disproportionately impacts communities of color and those facing heightened socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

According to research on 2015-2017 data, Germany showed the highest annual per capita consumption of controlled opioids, followed by Iceland and the United States, yet understanding **who consumes the most opioids** requires a deeper look into complex demographic and socioeconomic factors. The answer varies depending on whether one examines prescription rates versus overdose fatalities, which have shifted significantly over time and across different populations.

First marketed in 1996, the prescription painkiller OxyContin is widely considered the medication that ignited the opioid crisis in the United States, triggering a widespread wave of addiction due to its deceptive marketing and powerful nature. The story of this drug, its manufacturer Purdue Pharma, and the consequences of its widespread use provides a critical understanding of the public health emergency still unfolding today.

Globally, drug use-related deaths are predominantly attributable to opioids, with a significant portion resulting from overdose. This lethal outcome is most often caused by the most serious adverse effect of opioids: respiratory depression.

In a significant development for pain management, the FDA approved the first new class of oral, non-opioid pain medicine in decades with the authorization of Journavx (suzetrigine) in early 2025. This provides a new, non-addictive option for those asking, 'What is the new pain medicine to replace opioids?'.

The synthetic opioid carfentanil is estimated to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine [1.2.2, 1.3.3]. This article answers the question, **which is the strongest pain killer in the world?**, by examining the most powerful opioids, their uses, and their significant dangers.

In 2023, approximately 69% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States involved synthetic opioids, primarily illegally manufactured fentanyl [1.8.1]. Understanding what is the most common drug overdose is critical to addressing this public health crisis.

Following the FDA's decision to make it available without a prescription in 2023, naloxone became more accessible across the country. This guide explains exactly how much is Narcan nasal spray at Walgreens, detailing the costs for both the brand-name and generic options and how to navigate the purchasing process.

In 2019, an estimated 50.2 million adults in the U.S. experienced chronic pain, with millions turning to opioids for relief [1.7.2, 1.7.3]. Amidst the opioid crisis, many are asking: Is CBD considered an opioid? The answer is a definitive no; they are pharmacologically distinct compounds [1.2.1].

Historically, Americans have consumed a disproportionately high amount of certain prescription painkillers, with the Drug Enforcement Administration reporting that in 2014, the US consumed around 99% of the world's supply of hydrocodone. This sheds light on the complex question of which narotic drug is commonly used, involving both medically prescribed substances and illicitly manufactured compounds.