Battling the opioid epidemic: lessons learned and management strategies

While the roots of the opioid epidemic are multifaceted, there are concerning statistics that deaths from prescription opioids were 5 times higher in 2016 than in 1999, and there were 58 opioid prescriptions written for every 100 Americans in 2017 [1]. While it may sound intuitive to impose rules, mandates, and punitive actions, it is unlikely that these measures will reverse deeply rooted societal traditions and decades-old reliance on opioids. Although weaning off chronic opioid users is essential, it is equally critical to prevent the next generation of opioid users.