(USA) Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A.
The annual number of overdose deaths involving prescription and illicit opioids has nearly quadrupled since 2000, and this increase parallels marked growth in the quantity of opioid pain relievers being prescribed.1,2 In addition, more than 2 million people in the United States are addicted to prescription opioids and more than 12 million report having misused these medications in 2015.3 Prescription opioid addiction and misuse are also contributing to a resurgence in heroin use and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.4
