Keywords
Opioids, Heroin, Fentanyl
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Opioids kill thousands of Americans each year. The opioid epidemic is the worst public health disaster in our nation’s history. The crisis touches countless communities, is a pivotal driver of the diminishing labor force and costs the country billions of dollars each year. West Virginia has the highest death rate due to drug overdose. It is important to identify the risk factors that can lead to overdose and seek science based and practical recommendations to tackle the problem.
