The Opioid Epidemic: Misuse, Tolerance and Addiction

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared what became known as the opioid crisis, to be a public health emergency. The origin of this epidemic dates back to the 1990s, where pharmaceutical companies initially began reassuring medical professionals that prescribing opioid pain relievers would pose no risk to patients in need. Subsequently, providers began to gradually administer opioids in greater doses, which eventually resulted in widespread misuse of the drug. When it finally became clear that opioids could become dangerously addictive, it was already too late. “Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic include increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses, as well as the rising incidence of newborns experiencing withdrawal syndrome due to opioid use and misuse during pregnancy” [1]. Today, an average of over 130 U.S. citizens die every day due to misuse and overdosing on opioids.Keywords: Opioids epidemic; Tolerance; Misuse; Addiction