Combating the Opioid Drug Epidemic

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. Since 1999, overdose deaths involving heroin and opioids, including prescription opioid pain relievers, have quadrupled, and so have sales of these prescription drugs. In 2014, almost two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids. Pennsylvania is among the ten states with the highest opioid use and overdose rates. In this Events @ RAND podcast, a panel of experts helps us understand this epidemic and discuss prevention, treatment, and recovery options.