Opioid County Policy Simulator

About the Opioid Use Epidemic

What is the opioid overdose crisis?

In 2017, the opioid epidemic was declared a U.S. public health emergency. Opioid overdose deaths continued to rise through 2022, with over 81,000 deaths in 2022 alone.

How can policymakers respond?

To address the crisis, a multipronged approach consisting of evidence-based practices (EBPs) across prevention, harm reduction, and treatment is needed. EBPs for opioid use disorder include medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) such as buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone, overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND), and safer opioid prescribing. Understanding the scale of different EBPs needed to reduce opioid overdose deaths can inform resource planning.