Question

some key findings about the Economic and cost issue of the opioid crises in the US.

Answer 1

October 26 marked National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which offered an incentive for Americans to avoid substance abuse and fraud by eliminating potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications from their homes. The opioid crisis, which the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) reports cost $696 billion in 2018 or 3.4 per cent of GDP and more than $2.5 trillion over the four-year period from 2015 to 2018, is one of the most concrete examples of the dangers of misuse of prescription drugs. These massive costs point to the nationwide economic destruction resulting from the very human "next-door crisis" in America.

Just as the opioid crisis had many causes for its start and growth, ending the crisis requires many solutions. Enhanced recovery support, improved opioid threat awareness and improved protection to avoid the influx of illegal drugs are all critical resources to address the epidemic. The Congress passed, and President Trump signed the Support Act, the largest legislative package in US history addressing a single drug crisis.

Medicaid recipients are at a greater risk of drug use disorders, like OUD, with about 12% of recipients diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 64. Medicaid recipients also have 50 to 100% higher rates of psychiatric and drug use disorders relative to the general population. These rates outweigh those of other insurance programs. OUD recovery services include medications and therapy. Medication-assisted therapy, a mixture of drugs and counseling, has less recurrences than medication alone