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addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
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will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.
Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use
prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
For the first time since 1993, life expectancy in the United States has dropped. And researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe the opioid epidemic has contributed to this recent development.
A study published Sept. 19 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the rise in opioid-involved deaths has shortened life expectancy for Americans by 2 1/2 months.
“It really underlines how serious the problem of opioid overdose has become in the U.S.,” Dr. Deborah Dowell, lead researcher of the study, told Time. “In general we don’t see decreases in life expectancy attributable to a single cause that are of this magnitude.”
The report examined how drug poisoning and 12 leading causes of death in 2015 affected U.S. life expectancy from 2000 to 2015. Researchers drew data from the National Vital Statistics System Mortality file, a collection of death statistics from 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The study showed that the number of opioid-related overdose deaths nearly quadrupled from 2000 to 2015. During that span, the number of overdose deaths from all drugs increased from 17,415 to 52,404. Although the CDC has yet to finalize the number of Americans who died of drug overdose in 2016, officials estimate that it will exceed 64,000.
Researchers also found that deaths from drugs other than opioids increased from 9,008 in 2000 to 19,313 in 2015. During that time, deaths involving alcohol poisoning rose from 327 to 2,354.
Some good news came from the report: Death rates associated with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease decreased from 2000 to 2015. And the average life expectancy at birth increased by two years. This metric predicts the average lifespan of a newborn if mortality patterns at the time of birth stay constant in the future.
But increases in deaths from drug overdose, suicide and other causes reduced the average life expectancy.
The CDC report also stated that the number of overdose deaths may be underestimated. As researchers explained, death certificates often do not list opioids as a cause of death when people die from infectious diseases related to opioid use, and up to 25 percent of death certificates do not list the specific drug that caused an overdose.
Opioid Commission Fighting to Reduce U.S. Drug Abuse
The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, headed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, has been tasked with finding ways to help eradicate the opioid epidemic. On Oct. 1, the commission was slated to submit a final report detailing ways to fight substance abuse.
However, Christie has requested to push the deadline back to Nov. 1.
In a letter to Trump, Christie shared the commission’s plans to visit a medical center to learn new pain management strategies. The commission will also speak with representatives from the pharmaceutical industry to discuss partnership opportunities with the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
On Sept. 27, the opioid commission will meet at the White House to address strategies for diversion prevention and pain management.
Heroin and Fentanyl Key Contributors to Opioid Crisis
Prescription opioids such as hydrocodone and oxycodone heavily contributed to the rise in drug overdose deaths in the early 2000s. But in recent years, heroin and fentanyl have become the leading drivers of opioid-related deaths.
Heroin is a highly addictive opioid derived from morphine, a substance found in certain poppy plants. Heroin generally is sold as a white or brownish powder, and it can be swallowed, smoked or injected. The drug has affected Americans of most age groups and all income levels.
The opioid can cause slowed breathing, coma and death. Individuals who use heroin with alcohol or other drugs increase their risk of overdose. According to the CDC, the rate of overdose deaths involving heroin nearly quadrupled from 2002 to 2013.
Fentanyl is a painkiller that has played a large role in the worsening of the opioid epidemic in recent years. The synthetic opioid is 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine. Like heroin, fentanyl has contributed to thousands of deaths in recent years.
In 2015, nearly 10,000 people in the United States died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, including fentanyl, per the CDC.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Matt Gonzales is a writer and researcher for DrugRehab.com. He graduated with a degree in journalism from East Carolina University and began his professional writing career in 2011. Matt covers the latest drug trends and shares inspirational stories of people who have overcome addiction. Certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in health literacy, Matt leverages his experience in addiction research to provide hope to those struggling with substance use disorders.
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