{"id":15441,"date":"2017-05-12T20:12:32","date_gmt":"2017-05-12T20:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/pnr\/?p=15441"},"modified":"2026-02-03T17:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:21:12","slug":"resources-focusing-on-the-opioid-epidemic","status":"archive","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_5\/resources-focusing-on-the-opioid-epidemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources Focusing on the Opioid Epidemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is news from the NIH\/NLM Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared opioid abuse an epidemic<\/a>, calling it a serious public health issue. Two states, Florida<\/a> and Maryland<\/a>, have recently declared states of emergency in response to the opioid crisis.<\/p>\n

NIH MedlinePlus<\/em> magazine has an overview to help readers understand the opioid overdose epidemic<\/a>, and the statistics are staggering: an estimated 1.9 million people in the US have a prescription opioid use disorder, while another 586,000 have a heroin use disorder. In 2014 alone, more than 28,000 people died from an opioid overdose.<\/p>\n

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has collected resources about the opioid epidemic<\/a>, including resources for health professionals and law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Issues that face first responders and first receivers include appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), treatment for overdoses, and coping with stress. The National Library of Medicine provides access to resources for responders, health professionals, and the general public:<\/p>\n