To combat the increase in opioid usage, pharmaceutical companies developed a policy proposal. It proposes a wide variety of policy changes, including regulations on prescribing and dosage and pharmacy coverage.
Click here to see the full PhRMA Policy Proposal
A research perspective:
In an interview with Dr. Merrill Singer, renowned medical anthropologist and an expert on the opioid epidemic, we delved further into the progression of the opioid epidemic.
When asked about what sets the opioid epidemic apart from other drug epidemics, Dr. Singer said, “doctor prescribed opioids…[are a] major gateway into heroin use.”
When asked about the way that the opioid epidemic affected different populations as it progressed, Dr. Singer replied that, “…clearly in terms of the overall impact, it appears that the epidemic is having a far greater impact on poor people, [and] people of color, than other sectors. It’s not that they’re more involved, it’s just that it’s harder to get out of a dependence or addiction to opioids because of discrimination and income.”