Get Informed
Did you know 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids? Understand the facts about opioids and learn approaches to preventing, treating, and recovering from opioid misuse.
Get Connected
Too many people battling opioid use disorder feel isolated and alone. Get connected to the partners who can help you make a big difference.
Get Inspired
For every tragic story tied to the opioid epidemic there is another story of hope and perseverance through treatment and recovery. Discover these uplifting stories and share your own experiences.
Get Involved
Ending the U.S. opioid epidemic starts with each of us taking a small step to get involved. Find a local volunteer opportunity. Hire a worker in recovery. Have a conversation with your kids. Every step helps.
Health Care Providers
Health care workers — including physicians, dentists, nurses, social workers, and clinical staff — play a critical role in helping patients understand the risks of opioid misuse and identifying at-risk patients early, before substance misuse begins. You can help patients feel more comfortable asking tough questions about their prescriptions, including those related to dosing, refill, potency, side effects, and medication-assisted treatment options.
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Teachers & Coaches
Teachers and coaches are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, interacting every day with students who are at risk for opioid misuse or buying, selling, or sharing stolen or discarded pain killers. In 2016 alone, 3.3 billion pills were left unused by patients, making them available for potential diversion and misuse. Learn about the high stakes of the opioid crisis and ways to speak to students about the dangers of opioids in a credible, positive way, so you can help discourage students from sharing unused prescription medicine.
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Military
The opioid epidemic has had an important impact in the readiness of our armed forces, particularly in recruiting service members who can meet the high standards of military service. At the same time, veterans are disproportionately affected by opioid misuse. Discover the signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder and hear the authentic stories of veterans who confronted opioid misuse and found a path to recovery.
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Companies
We believe that private sector support is a critical factor that’s missing in most campaigns confronting the opioid crisis — even though few companies have been spared this epidemic’s effects on their employees, communities, and customers. And the economic toll is massive. Substance misuse is preventing more prime-age workers from finding work than ever before. The costs of hospitalization and long-term care are mounting, straining insurance plans and dependent care options. And the impact on families and communities — particularly the trauma imposed on children — may be incalculable, with potentially severe consequences in the decades to come. Companies are highly effective at mobilizing resources, promoting events, and organizing volunteers to address specific community needs, which is an invaluable asset right now. Learn more about increasing your community impact while delivering valuable services to your employees and mitigating costs related to employee and dependent care. Please read the Surgeon General’s Vision for Future, section Private Sector: Industry and Commerce.
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Family and Friends
It’s too easy for parents to think that opioid misuse couldn’t happen to them, or to their children. But the medicine is so potent and the problem so pervasive that parents don’t spot the problem until it is too late. The opioid epidemic has reached crisis proportions for a variety of reasons and every parent should now be aware of the threat to their families. More importantly, every parent should know the facts about opioid misuse, be aware of the threat level in their community, and be prepared to speak openly about it with their children and seek out help before it is too late. At the same time, older adults (aged 40 years and older) are more likely to use prescription opioids than younger adults aged 20 – 39, so teenagers and adults should be prepared to speak about the risks of opioids to their parents.
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