opioid epidemic

[ oh-pee-oid ep-i-dem-ik ]

noun

a public health crisis brought about by a notable increase in the use of opioids: legislative efforts to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Origin of opioid epidemic

First recorded in 2010–15

The same year, Congress passed the “21st Century Cures Act,” which provided $1 billion over two years to assist states combating the opioid epidemic.
2020 Saw a Scary Increase in U.S. Drug Overdoses. We Must Take National Action to Help Communities at Risk | Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Grassley | July 19, 2021 | Time
The first wave of the opioid epidemic in the US began in the 1990s.
Chemists think they’ve found a way to make opioids less addicting | Purbita Saha | July 17, 2021 | Popular-Science
A less addictive opioid, however, could be an important tool to deal with the opioid epidemic.
Chemists think they’ve found a way to make opioids less addicting | Purbita Saha | July 17, 2021 | Popular-Science
The Veterans Administration has come under withering criticism in recent years for contributing to the nation’s opioid epidemic.
How the VA Is Pushing Vets Into the Opioid Abyss | Alexa Beyer | May 31, 2021 | The Daily Beast
I wanted to get to work fixing potholes, addressing our affordable-housing crisis and finding solutions to our opioid epidemic to help build a stronger, more vibrant city.
We Have a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Protect LGBTQ People From Discrimination. Will the Senate Take It? | Rosemary Ketchum | May 21, 2021 | Time

Browse