Timeline of the opioid epidemic

The opioid epidemic refers to the rapid increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States and Canada, beginning in the late 1990s and continuing into the present. This timeline outlines key events and developments in the opioid crisis.

1990s: The Rise of Prescription Opioids

In the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. This led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive.

1996

• OxyContin, a controlled-release formulation of oxycodone, is introduced by Purdue Pharma. It is marketed as a less addictive alternative to other pain medications.

1999

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that opioid overdose deaths begin to rise sharply.

2000s: Escalation and Awareness

During the 2000s, the opioid crisis began to gain national attention as overdose deaths continued to climb.

2001

• The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations introduces pain as the "fifth vital sign," encouraging more aggressive treatment of pain.

2007

• Purdue Pharma and three of its executives plead guilty to misleading the public about the risk of addiction associated with OxyContin. They agree to pay $634 million in fines.

2010s: The Crisis Intensifies

The opioid epidemic reaches new heights in the 2010s, with significant increases in opioid-related overdoses and deaths.

2010

• Reformulation of OxyContin to make it more difficult to crush and snort or inject, in an effort to reduce abuse.

2013

• The CDC reports that opioid prescriptions have quadrupled since 1999, but there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.

2015

• The CDC releases guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, emphasizing non-opioid therapies and careful monitoring of patients.

2017

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares the opioid crisis a public health emergency.
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  A lethal dose of fentanyl, 2 mg, which is a major contributor to the opioid crisis

2020s: Ongoing Challenges and Responses

The opioid epidemic continues to evolve, with new challenges and responses emerging in the 2020s.

2020

• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the opioid crisis, with increased isolation and stress leading to higher rates of substance use and overdose.

2021

• The CDC reports over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in a 12-month period, the highest number ever recorded.

Related Pages

• Opioid
• Opioid use disorder
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone
• Public health emergency