Prevent Opioid Use Disorder
There are a variety of ways to help reduce exposure to opioids and prevent opioid use disorder, such as:
- Prescription drug monitoring programs
- State prescription drug laws
- Formulary management strategies in insurance programs, such as prior authorization, quantity limits, and drug utilization review
- Academic detailing to educate providers about opioid prescribing guidelines and facilitating conversations with patients about the risks and benefits of pain treatment options
- Quality improvement programs in health care systems to increase implementation of recommended prescribing practices
- Patient education on the safe storage and disposal of prescription opioids
- Improve awareness and share resources about the risks of prescription opioids, and the cost of overdose on patients and families.
- See CDC’s Rx Awareness Campaign website
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): sometimes referred to as “opioid abuse or dependence” or “opioid addiction,” OUD is a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress.
![More than 11.5 million people reported misuse of prescription pain medicine in 2016.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201220085409im_/https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/images/prevention/IOAD18-11.5Million.png)
![48.5 million Americans have used illicit drugs or misused Rx drugs.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201220085409im_/https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/images/opioids/FortyEightPointFiveMillionAmericans.png)
Page last reviewed: October 11, 2017