America’s Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact
The U.S. is experiencing its highest-ever rates of opioid addiction and overdose, and the numbers are only predicted to rise. A combination of the overuse of prescription opioids for acute and chronic pain and an increasing supply of heroin and illicit fentanyl is driving this epidemic.
Evidence-based strategies for preventing and treating opioid addiction have been shown to be successful but are not being implemented quickly and at scale. On October 30, 2017, the Clinton Health Matters Initiative and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will co-host a forum focused on elevating high-impact solutions to the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Speakers, panelists, and thought leaders representing diverse stakeholders affected by the crisis will consider critical components needed to reduce the injury and death rates nationwide. Evidence-based recommendations that reflect the most current science will be the focus, and translating that evidence to action will be the goal.