With the rise of fentanyl-caused deaths in this country alone, it is important now more than ever to educate our communities on effective medications to treat opioid use disorder.
According to, National Institute of Drug Abuse definition: Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. Learn about the health effects of prescription opioids and read the DrugFacts on Fentanyl, Heroin, and Prescription Opioids.
Statistics from addictioncenter.com
Statistics On Opioid Addiction And Abuse
Opioids are a class of drugs which block sensations of pain and cause euphoria. They are dangerous because they pose very high risks for addiction and overdose. Opioids are an ingredient in many pain-relieving medications. Since they are controlled substances, drug traffickers also sell them illegally. Opioids, both illegal and prescribed, have caused a surge of deaths in the United States in the past 2 decades.
- About 130 Americans die every day from an Opioid overdose.
- From 1999 to 2017, 399,230 Americans lost their lives to Opioids.
- In 2017 alone, 47,600 fatal overdoses occurred in America which involved at least 1 Opioid.
- In 2017, doctors issued 191,218,272 Opioid prescriptions, a slight decline from the 200,000,000 Opioid prescriptions which they issued every year from 2006 to 2016.
- Since 1999, the sale of Opioid painkillers has skyrocketed by 300%.
- About 20% to 30% of people who take prescription Opioids misuse them.
- 2 million Americans misused prescription Opioids for the first time in 2017.
- About 10% of people who misuse prescription Opioids become addicted to Opioids.
- Approximately 2.1 million Americans have an Opioid use disorder.
- About 5% of people with an Opioid use disorder will try Heroin.
Statistics On Heroin Addiction And Abuse
Heroin is a powerful and addictive Opioid. It is an illegal drug which poses serious risks for overdose. Heroin, especially Heroin mixed with Fentanyl, has been a major contributor to the Opioid epidemic in the United States.
- About 494,000 Americans over the age of 12 are regular Heroin users.
- In 2017, 886,000 Americans used Heroin at least once.
- About 25% of people who try Heroin will become addicted.
- In 2017, 81,000 Americans tried Heroin for the first time.
- Over 15,000 Americans died from a Heroin overdose in 2017.
What treatments are available for opioid addiction?
Suboxone and Sublocade are both used to treat opioid addiction.
- Suboxone is available in a film form or pill form that is used in MAT (medically assisted treatment) to combat opioid addiction.
- Sublocade is a once a month injection that releases buprenorphine into the body that works throughout the month.
What’s the difference?
- Suboxone is taken every day and Sublocade is like Vivitrol, where it is a once a month injection.
- Both Suboxone and Sublocade treat opioid addiction effectively.
What option is right for you?
Give us a call or schedule your first appointment online.