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Review
. 2018 Aug;15(4):293-301.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-018-0398-8.

Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis

Kimberly Johnson  1   2 , Chris Jones  3 , Wilson Compton  4 , Grant Baldwin  5 , Jennifer Fan  6 , Jonathan Mermin  5 , Jean Bennett  6
Affiliations
Review

Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis

Kimberly Johnson et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose of review: In light of the current crisis in opioid involved overdose deaths, the federal Department of Health and Human Services operating divisions are working together to implement a data-driven, research-based strategy to reduce opioid misuse and its consequences.

Recent findings: The strategy has five elements: (1) strengthening public health data collection and reporting; (2) advancing the practice of pain management; (3) improving access to addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services; (4) increasing availability of overdose-reversing drugs; and (5) supporting cutting-edge research in treatment of pain, opioid use disorder, and associated conditions. The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a concerted, coordinated evidence-based effort across department divisions to reduce opioid misuse, prevalence of opioid use disorder, and reduce deaths due to opioid use.

Keywords: Federal response; HIV; Opioid epidemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Wilson Compton reports long-term stock holdings in General Electric, 3M Companies and Pfizer.

References

    1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 17–5044, NSDUH Series H-52). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/.

      •• Current epidemiologic data on opioid use, use disorder, and associated conditions.

    1. Ahmad FB, Rossen LM, Spencer MR, Warner M, Sutton P. Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm.

      •• Current overdose death data.

    1. Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, Hansen RN, Sullivan SD, Blazina I, et al. The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2015;162(4):276–86.

      • Evidence of poor outcomes for use of opioids for chronic pain

    1. Wu LT, Zhu H, Swartz MS. Treatment utilization among persons with opioid use disorder in the United States. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016. Dec 1;169:117–27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ronan MV, Herzig SJ. Hospitalizations related to opioid abuse/ dependence and associated serious infections increased sharply, 2002–12. Health Aff. 2016. May 1;35(5):832–7. - PMC - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances