Opioid addiction is still a serious public health crisis based on the opioid epidemic in 2020 updates by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Presently, the focus is on intervention and prevention. However, those already addicted to opioids may still need to check into an addiction treatment center in Washington or one closer to home. Drug rehabs provide a compassionate and drug-free environment where individuals can receive comprehensive recovery care. 

What Is the Opioid Epidemic?

Also known as the opioid crisis, the opioid epidemic refers to the steadily growing addiction and overdose deaths involving opioids or opiates. They include heroin, an illicit drug, and opioids prescribed to treat severe and chronic pain.

Commonly abused prescription opioids include fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. There’s also synthetic fentanyl, a drug about 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

A high increase in doctor-prescribed opioids is the main cause of the crisis. It started with the aggressive marketing of opioid pain relievers by big pharmaceutical companies in 1999. Patients grew addicted to drugs due to long-term use, misuse, or abuse. Addiction rates skyrocketed and so did the overdose rates. 

Opioid Epidemic 2020 Facts and Stats

The opioid epidemic in 2020 official reports are not yet published. However, based on 2017 and 2018 trends, opioid use and abuse continue to be a big problem. Statistics show that about 21 to 29 percent of patients misused opioids they were prescribed for chronic pain. About 10 to 12 percent developed an opioid use disorder.

In fact, an estimated 2.1 million people aged 12 or older had an opioid use disorder in 2017. Further, 4 to 6 percent of those who misuse prescription opioids go on to use heroin. Again in 2017, an estimated 1.7 million people in the US had substance use disorders related to prescription opioid painkillers. Meanwhile, 652,000 were battling a heroin use disorder. 

The Opioid Epidemic 2020 and Drug Overdose Trends

Although opioids were marketed in 1999 as powerful pain relievers with a promise that they are not addictive, drug overdose deaths rose from 8,048 in 1999 to 47,600 in 2017. The epidemic just got kept getting worse, resulting in millions of people battling addiction and in need of help from substance abuse treatment centers in places like Washington.

But that’s not all. Of the 70,000 people who died from drug overdoses in 2017, about 68 percent involved a prescription or illicit opioid. 60 percent involved synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl. You’ll even come across more shocking stats online using the search terms “opioid epidemic 2019.”

Finding an Opioid Addiction Treatment Program in Washington

Residents of Washington have an opportunity to recover from opioid abuse at Bayview Recovery. We provide heroin addiction treatment which starts with medication-assisted detox to remove the substance from the body. Some clients may need to attend the prescription drug rehab center depending on the type of opioids involved. 

We understand the dangers of opioid abuse and will customize your treatment plan to address various needs. Following detox and withdrawal, and once you’re stable, you can transition into the addiction treatment therapy program. Here, you will meet with a therapist to participate in individual or group psychotherapy.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy designed to help you see the connection between your life circumstances and addiction. For example, many people do drugs to avoid stress or because they suffer from depression, anxiety, or another co-occurring disorder. Needless to say, you’ll learn how to cope, managing drug use triggers, and prevent relapse. Other programs and therapies include:

• Outpatient treatment
• Inpatient rehab program
• Residential program
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Structural family therapy

Give Bayview Recovery a call at 855.478.3650 to find out how we can help. We welcome men and women from all walks of life no matter where you live.