Knowledge Circle

Summarizes data on the use of prescription opioids, including information on associated harms and effects, legal status, costs, hospitalization, emergency department visits and access to treatment. As of the date of the summary (June 2020), opioid pain relievers are used by 11.8% of the population, unchanged from 13% in 2015. Hospitalizations due to opioid poisoning have been increasing and there were 2,913 opioid-related deaths in 2019.