Tag: Opioid epidemic

Data from 2020–2021 reveal that older adults (65+) in fair or poor health were significantly more likely to receive at least one outpatient opioid prescription. Understanding **who is most likely to be prescribed opioids** involves examining a complex interplay of demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors.

Despite common misconceptions, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not classified gabapentin as a narcotic at the federal level. This does not mean it is without risk, and growing evidence of misuse has prompted many states to reclassify the medication as a controlled substance.

Gabapentin was one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. in 2021, but **is gabapentin a controlled drug**? The answer is nuanced, as it is not federally scheduled but is classified as a Schedule V controlled substance in many states due to rising concerns about misuse and potential for abuse.

Despite a common misconception, gabapentin is not a federally classified narcotic. However, an estimated 1% of the general population misuses gabapentin, prompting many states to reclassify it as a controlled substance due to increasing concerns over abuse and dependence.

According to a 2024 report, over 64 million people in the U.S. used marijuana in the past year, making it the most used illicit substance. However, a different drug, illicit fentanyl, is responsible for the majority of overdose fatalities, complicating the question of what is the biggest illegal drug in the US. The answer is not a single drug but rather a combination of factors, including prevalence, lethality, and trafficking volumes.

Globally, more than 35 million people struggle with substance abuse or addiction, highlighting a widespread and complex public health issue. While the perception of what is the most abused drug in the world might focus on illicit substances, legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco actually impact a much larger population.

In the United States, drug overdoses involving opioids have surged more than sevenfold from 1999 to 2017, highlighting a critical need for safer pain management alternatives. Amid this public health crisis, scientists have developed Journavx (suzetrigine), providing a new answer to the question, "What is the new drug replacing opioids?"

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have occurred in recent years, with doctor shopping being a significant contributing factor. But what does doctor shopping mean, and why is it so dangerous?