Opioid Abuse in the U.S.: An Urgent Public Health Crisis
November 02, 2015 | 10:00 AM
11:30 AM ET
Between 1999 and 2013, the amount of prescription painkillers dispensed in the U.S. quadrupled. In roughly the same period, both painkiller-related deaths and heroin-related deaths quadrupled as well. This is no coincidence—people who are addicted to prescription opioids are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin. The U.S. is now facing an epidemic of opioid abuse, but promising interventions could turn the tide.
This webinar featured innovative efforts to reverse opioid abuse trends, including:
- Payer collaboration with providers and pharmacies to improve access to appropriate pain care
- Federal actions to reform prescribing practices and expand access to medication-assisted treatment for addiction
- Interventions to reduce drug abuse among pregnant women and to improve treatment for babies born dependent
- Strategies for raising awareness of the risks associated with painkiller addiction
Speakers

Cecelia McNamara Spitnaz
The White House Office of Drug Control Policy

Grant T. Baldwin
CDC

Tom Kowalski
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Dawn Marion Abel
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

Geogy Thomas
Dayspring Family Health Center

Julie Snyder
HealthNow New York Inc.
Presentation Slides
Federal Initiatives for Prescription Opioids and Heroin
Federal Initiatives to Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdoses and Deaths Part 1
Federal Initiatives to Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdoses and Deaths Part 2
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Opioid Safety Management Program
Wellspring Center for Addiction Help and Resources
Project Hope: Awareness Campaign