# Opioid Crisis * **Definition:** The opioid crisis refers to the widespread misuse of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs, leading to a significant increase in addiction, overdose deaths, and social and economic consequences. It encompasses the public health emergency resulting from the over-prescription of opioids, the rise of illicit opioid use, and the subsequent impact on healthcare systems, communities, and families. * **Taxonomy:** Healthcare Topics / Opioid Crisis ## News * Selected news on the topic of **Opioid Crisis**, for healthcare technology leaders * 3.5K news items are in the system for this topic * Posts have been filtered for tech and healthcare-related keywords | Date | Title | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 5/29/2025 | [**Postoperative Pain Therapeutics Market Set to Reach USD 18.80 Billion by 2029, Driven by Innovation and Non-Opioid Alternatives**](http://prsync.com/maximize-market-research-company/postoperative-pain-therapeutics-market-set-to-reach-usd--billion-by--driven-by-innovation-and-non-opioid-alternatives-4743995/) | [[PRSync]] | | 5/27/2025 | [**Ready for health AI? It may depend on your practice setting - American Medical Association**](https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/ready-health-ai-it-may-depend-your-practice-setting) | [[AMA]] | | 5/26/2025 | [**News - Healthcare IT News**](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/joint-commission%E2%80%99s-6-safety-goals-should-be-part-ehr-certification/18965?page=1168) | [[Healthcare IT News]] | | 5/13/2025 | [**Why Trump's Drug Price Order Didn't Rattle the Industry - Bloomberg**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-05-13/why-trump-drug-price-executive-order-didn-t-rattle-pharma?srnd=prognosis) | [[Bloomberg]] | | 5/5/2025 | [**What Counts as 'New Vaccines' for RFK Jr.'s Placebo Testing Order? - Bloomberg News**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-05-05/what-counts-as-new-vaccines-for-rfk-jr-placebo-testing-order) | [[Bloomberg]] | | 4/29/2025 | [**DiMe Launches Partnerships to Combat Opioid Relapse Using Wearables**](https://hitconsultant.net/2025/04/29/dime-launches-partnerships-to-combat-opioid-relapse-using-wearables/) | [[HIT Consultant]] | | 4/10/2025 | [**South Rampart Pharma Strengthens Board with Appointment of Ochsner Health CEO Pete November**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-rampart-pharma-strengthens-board-with-appointment-of-ochsner-health-ceo-pete-november-302425121.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 2/24/2025 | [**Dual Certification Of Community Health Workers And Certified Peer Support Specialists Can Better Address Syndemics**](https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/dual-certification-community-health-workers-and-certified-peer-support-specialists-can) | [[Health Affairs]] | | 2/22/2025 | [**FierceHealthcare's Fierce 15 of 2020**](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-report/lark-health?b169400e_page=2&ashby_jid=d6224503-01f8-43c1-91e9-82b7427fadba) | [[FierceHealthcare]] | | 2/15/2025 | [**Health IT Issues that Deserve a Second Read - January 2025**](https://www.healthitanswers.net/health-it-issues-that-deserve-a-second-read-january-2025/) | [[Health IT Answers]] | | 2/4/2025 | [**Health Equity eekly Roundup: February 4, 2025**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/health-equity-access-weekly-roundup-february-4-2025) | [[AJMC]] | | 2/3/2025 | [**We're reading about tariffs and drug costs, scrapped vaccine plant - STAT News**](https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2025/02/03/tariffs-generics-medicare-astrazeneca-vaccines-opioids-cvs-walgreens-walmart-jnj-genentech-340b-patents-rfk/) | [[STAT]] | | 1/30/2025 | [**Readers Offer Their Takes on the Opioid Crisis, Family Doctor Shortage, and Vaccine Policies**](https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/letters-to-the-editor-osteopaths-opioid-settlement-vaccines-surgical-codes/) | [[KFF Health News]] | | 1/30/2025 | [**Readers Offer Their Takes on the Opioid Crisis, Family Doctor Shortage, and Vaccine Policies**](https://californiahealthline.org/news/article/letters-to-the-editor-osteopaths-opioid-settlement-vaccines-surgical-codes/) | [[California Healthline]] | | 1/29/2025 | [**U.S. E-Prescribing Market Focused Insights 2025-2030 with Exclusive Data on 30+ Vendors - ResearchAndMarkets.com**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129361391/en/U.S.-E-Prescribing-Market-Focused-Insights-2025-2030-with-Exclusive-Data-on-30-Vendors---ResearchAndMarkets.com/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 1/27/2025 | [**U.S. E-Prescribing Market Focused Insights 2025-2030: Integration of Predictive Analytics ...**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-e-prescribing-market-focused-131800183.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 1/23/2025 | [**Sacklers, Purdue to pay $7.4 bn over opioid crisis**](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-sacklers-purdue-pay-bn-opioid.html) | [[MedicalXpress]] | | 1/16/2025 | [**Why the opioid crisis and youth mental health demand urgent parity reforms in 2025**](https://kevinmd.com/2025/01/why-the-opioid-crisis-and-youth-mental-health-demand-urgent-parity-reforms-in-2025.html) | [[KevinMD]] | | 12/25/2024 | [**Healthcare In 2025: A Year Of Practical AI, Remote Care And Patient-Centered Solutions**](https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/12/26/healthcare-in-2025-a-year-of-practical-ai-remote-care-and-patient-centered-solutions/) | [[Forbes]] | | 12/20/2024 | [**Top 5 Podcasts of 2024 - American Journal of Managed Care**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/top-5-podcasts-of-2024) | [[AJMC]] | | 12/13/2024 | [**McKinsey reaches $650M settlement over role in opioid crisis**](https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-health-public-health/mckinsey-reaches-650m-settlement-over-role-in-opioid-crisis.html) | [[Beckers Behavioral Health]] | | 11/6/2024 | [**Opioid Stewardship Pharmacist: Innovative Approaches to Pain Management**](https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/opioid-stewardship-pharmacist-innovative-approaches-to-pain-management) | [[Pharmacy Times]] | | 10/2/2024 | [**Corporate Accountability and Public Health: Sackler Ruling and Treatment Gaps in the Opioid Crisis**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/corporate-accountability-and-public-health-sackler-ruling-and-treatment-gaps-in-the-opioid-crisis) | [[AJMC]] | | 8/13/2024 | [**Cantata Health Solutions and Zero Overdose Forge Strategic Partnership to Combat Overdose Crisis**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cantata-health-solutions-zero-overdose-130000976.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 8/13/2024 | [**Cantata Health Solutions and Zero Overdose Forge Strategic Partnership to Combat ... - PRWeb**](https://www.prweb.com/releases/cantata-health-solutions-and-zero-overdose-forge-strategic-partnership-to-combat-overdose-crisis-302220940.html) | [[PRWeb]] | ## Topic Overview (Some LLM-derived content — please confirm with above primary sources) ### Key Players - **Ontario Drug Policy Research Network**: Conducted research highlighting the impact of the opioid crisis on shelter populations in Ontario. - **McKinsey & Company**: Involved in promoting opioid sales, leading to significant settlements related to the opioid crisis. - **Ideal Option**: A network of medication-assisted treatment clinics focused on providing care for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). - **Purdue Pharma**: A pharmaceutical company known for its role in the opioid crisis, particularly for the aggressive marketing of OxyContin. - **FDA**: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, responsible for approving new medications for opioid use disorder and regulating opioid prescriptions. - **Sackler Family**: The family that owned Purdue Pharma and has faced lawsuits for their involvement in the opioid epidemic. - **Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)**: Provided $2.4 million in grants to address youth overdose and improve care for families affected by substance use. - **FFF Enterprises, Inc.**: A company that launched the ODRescue program to provide opioid overdose mitigation tools. - **HCA Healthcare**: A leading healthcare provider in the U.S. that conducts initiatives like 'Crush the Crisis' to combat prescription drug misuse. - **Nutriband Inc.**: A pharmaceutical company developing AVERSA™, an abuse-deterrent opioid transdermal patch aimed at addressing the opioid crisis. - **Cessation Therapeutics**: A company advancing CSX-1004, a monoclonal antibody aimed at preventing fentanyl-related overdoses, currently in Phase 2 trials. - **Cantata Health Solutions**: Partnered with Zero Overdose to enhance overdose risk management through EHR integration. - **NIH**: National Institutes of Health, which launched the HEALing Communities Study to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. - **Robert F. Kennedy Jr.**: A prominent figure in shaping health policy, particularly regarding addiction and the opioid crisis. - **OneOhio Recovery Foundation**: An organization providing funding for opioid abatement efforts and enhancing recovery services in Ohio. - **Nexalin Technology, Inc.**: Founding member of the Breaking Barriers coalition, focusing on innovative treatment options for opioid use disorder. ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **HCA Healthcare and National Academy of Medicine**: Collaborating to combat the opioid crisis using data from millions of patient encounters. - **HEALing Communities Study**: Engaged communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio to implement evidence-based strategies to combat the opioid crisis. - **National Institutes of Health**: Collaborating with researchers utilizing AI to analyze drug use data for tailored opioid-related initiatives. - **Breaking Barriers Coalition**: A coalition aimed at dismantling obstacles to effective treatment for opioid use disorder, with Nexalin Technology as a founding member. - **Dauphin County Opioid Remediation Grant Program**: A local initiative funded by opioid settlement money to support addiction prevention and recovery efforts. - **Cantata Health Solutions and Zero Overdose**: Partnership to integrate overdose risk management tools into healthcare systems. - **MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina)**: Researching the connections between intimate partner violence, PTSD, and opioid use disorder. - **Unite Us and OneOhio Recovery Foundation**: Unite Us received a grant to enhance opioid abatement efforts by improving data sharing and care coordination. - **Alliance for Connected Care**: Collaborated with various health systems and associations to advocate against restrictive DEA e-prescribing rules. - **Sonara Health and New Jersey**: Implementing a remote observation pilot program for take-home methadone treatment. - **Lin Health and Mayo Clinic**: Partnering to enhance care transition support for chronic pain management. - **LeadingAge Maryland, Civic Works, Grace Medical Center**: Collaborating on the EQUIP initiative to address addiction issues in senior housing. - **Highmark and AppliedVR**: Highmark became the first commercial insurer to cover AppliedVR's RelieVRx, a device for treating chronic pain, aiming to leverage technology to improve health outcomes. - **Teva Pharmaceuticals and mAbxience**: Signed a licensing agreement to develop an oncology biosimilar, enhancing their partnership to improve global healthcare accessibility. - **Marigold Health and Medicaid**: Marigold is focusing on partnerships with Medicaid and dual health plans to implement a value-based reimbursement model. ### Innovations, Trends, and Initiatives - **Syndemic Approach**: Recognizes the interconnectedness of health crises like opioid overdoses and emphasizes addressing shared social determinants. - **Naloxone Access Initiatives**: Efforts to increase access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, through public and clinical placements. - **Decision-Making Tool**: A new tool developed to optimize resource allocation for combating the opioid crisis, balancing prevention and harm-reduction strategies. - **AI in Opioid Crisis Management**: Artificial intelligence is being explored for personalized interventions and predicting communities at risk of opioid dependency. - **Naloxone Access Expansion**: Community pharmacies are crucial in distributing naloxone, with studies showing its effectiveness in reducing opioid fatalities. - **ODRescue Program**: A program by FFF Enterprises providing naloxone access in critical locations to combat opioid overdoses. - **Telehealth Expansion**: Legislation extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities reflects the growing recognition of telehealth's importance in combating the opioid crisis. - **Telemedicine Regulations**: New DEA regulations expanding telemedicine practices for prescribing controlled substances, including for opioid use disorder. - **Crush the Crisis**: An initiative by HCA Healthcare to raise awareness and facilitate safe disposal of unused medications. - **CSX-1004 Development**: Cessation Therapeutics is advancing a monoclonal antibody to combat fentanyl overdoses, highlighting innovation in treatment options. - **NOPAIN Act**: A CMS initiative allowing separate Medicare payments for non-opioid drugs and devices to enhance pain management alternatives. - **Nalmefene Auto-Injector**: Purdue Pharma's Zurnai, a new auto-injector for reversing opioid overdoses, represents a technological advancement in emergency response to overdoses. - **HEALing Communities Study**: A study that improved community access to naloxone, significantly reducing overdose deaths. - **Digital Toolkit for OUD**: Developed by MUSC to screen patients for IPV and PTSD, aiming to improve treatment outcomes. - **Suzetrigine**: A new non-opioid pain treatment approved by the FDA, marking a significant development in pain management amid the opioid crisis. - **E-Prescribing Systems**: The growth of e-prescribing systems with Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) capabilities to monitor prescriptions and prevent substance abuse. - **Sparrow Ascent Device**: A non-invasive neurostimulation device for opioid withdrawal treatment, enhancing accessibility for individuals with opioid use disorder. - **Neurostimulation Technologies**: Nexalin plans to deploy neurostimulation technologies for innovative treatment options for opioid use disorder. - **Neural Ice**: A non-opioid injectable solution for pain relief developed by Brixton Biosciences, funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative. - **AVERSA™ Technology**: Nutriband is advancing its AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology, with plans to submit a New Drug Application for AVERSA™ Fentanyl. ### Challenges and Concerns - **Ongoing Overdose Crisis**: Despite a decrease in opioid prescriptions, overdose rates remain high, necessitating a shift in opioid stewardship focus. - **Rising Overdose Deaths**: The opioid crisis continues to escalate, with overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl increasing significantly. - **Access to Treatment**: Vulnerable populations, particularly Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, face significant barriers in accessing lifesaving medications for opioid use disorder. - **Overdose Deaths**: Opioid-related overdoses result in approximately 130 deaths per day in the US, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatment and prevention programs. - **Health Disparities in Native American Communities**: Significant health disparities necessitate culturally relevant research and interventions to address the opioid crisis. - **Opioid Dependency Post-Surgery**: Many patients remain unaware that routine surgeries can lead to opioid addiction, highlighting a critical need for awareness and education. - **Aging Population**: Overdose rates among older adults are rising, yet they often do not receive adequate care for OUD. - **Pharmaceutical Influence**: The pharmaceutical industry's promotion of opioids as primary pain treatments has led to higher prescription rates in the U.S. compared to other countries. - **Funding Allocation Debate**: Disagreement on how opioid settlement funds should be allocated, with advocates pushing for public health initiatives over law enforcement. - **Misleading Public Perception**: The public often believes prescription opioids are the primary cause of addiction, overshadowing the role of illegal substances. - **Pharmacy Deserts**: Pharmacists are urged to combat pharmacy deserts that limit access to essential medications for opioid treatment. - **Access to Naloxone**: Despite its importance, there are significant gaps in naloxone availability in community settings. - **Disparities in Treatment**: Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in access to OUD treatment, with non-Hispanic White adults receiving more care. - **Corporate Accountability**: The US Supreme Court's decision to revoke the Sackler family's immunity from lawsuits marks a shift towards holding corporations accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. - **Efficacy of Interventions**: Despite various initiatives, such as the HEALing Communities Study, achieving statistically significant reductions in overdose death rates remains a challenge. - **Physician Hesitancy**: Many physicians are reluctant to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder due to stigma and lack of training. - **Policy Enforcement**: Challenges remain in enforcing federal laws that mandate appropriate care for individuals with addiction. - **Gender Gap in Pain Medicine**: A significant decline in female applicants for pain medicine fellowships raises concerns about diversity in the specialty.