Opioid epidemic
Opioid Epidemic
The Opioid Epidemic (pronounced /ˈoʊpiɔɪd ˈɛpɪˌdɛmɪk/) refers to the significant increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States and Canada in the 21st century.
Etymology
The term "Opioid Epidemic" is derived from the words "opioid", a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, and "epidemic", denoting a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
History
The Opioid Epidemic has its roots in the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers. As a result, healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates, leading to widespread misuse. It was soon discovered that opioids could indeed be highly addictive, leading to a significant increase in opioid overdose rates.
Related Terms
- Opioid: A class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription.
- Fentanyl: A synthetic opioid pain reliever, 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
- Heroin: An illegal and highly addictive opioid drug derived from morphine.
- Overdose: The ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended.
- Prescription Drug: A pharmaceutical drug that legally requires a medical prescription to be dispensed.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Opioid epidemic
- Wikipedia's article - Opioid epidemic
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