Overdose deaths in the United States have reached epidemic levels, with over 100,000 deaths reported between April 2020 and April 2021. Approximately 75% of those deaths were caused by opioids (driven by the synthetic opioid fentanyl), which makes preventing opioid-related overdoses and expanding access to opioid-use disorder (OUD) treatment specifically important. People experiencing homelessness are at significantly higher risk of opioid overdose, and have higher barriers to accessing treatment—making this an especially vulnerable population.
Categories:
Policy and Advocacy, Policy Issues, Substance Use & Opioids