Project Overview

The opioid epidemic in the United States can be traced back to the 1990s, where overprescribing of medicine became increasingly popular, while intensifying as time went on due to outside sources supplying cheap heroin and synthetic drugs such as fentanyl in conjunction with this viral case of overprescription. The easy access to such opioids allowed for physical dependence and addictions to develop, which meant a consistent market for suppliers was consistently ensured. It is also glaringly apparent that people afflicted with mental illnesses are subject to experience and struggle with opioid addiction. In fact, 64% of people diagnosed with opioid use disorder have mental illnesses, establishing a clear correlation of opioids reigning over those who may be especially vulnerable. It is important to take into account the intersectionality between opioid usage with additional factors, such as mental health and abuse of other substances, because opioids are not always the sole reason for an overdose, and that disparity will not be reflected in our data. Suicide is cited as taking up a large portion of overdose rates, up to 30%, with nonfatal opioid overdoses leading to increased suicide risk. It is critical to keep this in mind when addressing how to alleviate this epidemic and work toward optimal solutions for tackling addiction. In the United States, the opioid epidemic has notably hit some places harder than others. In recent years, reports of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana having the highest death rates relating to drugs have surfaced.