According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention June 2016 (CDC), since 1999 the amount of prescription opioids sold in the United States have quadrupled; deaths from prescription opioids have also quadrupled.
At least half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid (Centers for Disease Control, June 2016).
Opioid medications may work well for short-term paid relief, but they do not provide a long-term solution for chronic pain. Individuals who suffer from chronic pain and are prescribed opioid medications build a tolerance to the medication, which makes the prescription less effective and leaves clients needing higher doses to achieve pain relief. The client risks physiological dependence and an addiction disorder. When an individual tries to stop opioid medications after taking them for a period of time they may experience unpleasant symptoms, called withdrawal. Withdrawal can even lead to death.