The Pain Reliever and Heroin Epidemic in the United States: Shifting Winds in the Perfect Storm

Abstract

Aims: The abuse of prescription pain relievers and/or heroin is a significant public health concern. This article identifies the changes in this epidemic and estimates the extent of the gap between treatment availability and need. Method: This article uses the national data on opioid and heroin abuse to identify at-risk groups. Result: Findings include shifting from narcotic analgesics to heroin and demographic changes as well as changes in supply and new medication-assisted therapies. Conclusions: The number of persons dependent on pain relievers or heroin and new initiates is more than three times greater than the current capacity to deliver treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Medication assisted therapy
• methadone
• buprenorphine
• naltrexone
• heroin
• prescription pain medications
• opioid epidemic

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank Kurt Stauble and Alkermes^® their assistance in providing the data on patients in medication-assisted therapy and Dr. Herman Joseph for his assistance in preparation of this article.

NOTE

Notes

a. In 2014, two California counties and the City of Chicago filed suit against five of the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture pain pills contending the drug makers committed false and misleading advertising concerning the addictive nature of the drugs, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Purdue Pharma LP alleges the company trained its sales team to falsely portray OxyContin as much safer than it is.