opioids, help people with substance use disorders receive effective treatment, and supply Naloxone to public safety officials.
“As the nation’s public health agency, the CDC has a key role in preventing the misuse, abuse and addiction to prescription opioids,” she said, adding that the centers’ strategies include “providing guidance on safe and effective pain management and strengthening state efforts scaling up effective public-health interventions that work.”
“We need to recognize that opioid use disorder is a chronic illness, not a moral failing, and help people get effective treatment,” Lenard concluded. “We need to better align prescribing practices with best available evidence on benefits and risks of opioids. Our Vital Signs report shows that progress is possible and that much more needs to be done.”
