Health Care

RAND Resources on the Opioid Crisis

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is still grappling with the opioid epidemic. According to 2019 provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. had its deadliest year on record for overdose deaths, surpassing the 2017 peak. More than 36,000 of those deaths involved illegally produced synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl; these now account for almost three-quarters of all opioid overdose deaths. The nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation has a history of supporting policymakers in confronting the opioid crisis. Below are some recent examples you may find helpful as you look into potential responses to the problem.

Keep in mind that our researchers are a resource for you. RAND experts are available to answer questions you may have about the crisis and what we know about how to stem the tide, including the health care consequences of opioid misuse; effects of various policy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels; treatment access, equity, and effectiveness; and harm reduction.

Jared Perkins Legislative Analyst Jared_Perkins@rand.org

Responding to the Crisis

Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

Substance Use Treatment

Harm Reduction