PainRelief.com Interview with:
Vertex Spokesperson

PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: This study had two primary aims: (1) to provide a contemporary estimate of the societal costs of the opioid epidemic, and (2) to quantify the portion of the opioid epidemic attributable to new prescription opioids for acute pain from 2025 onwards and evaluate the potential impact of an effective non-opioid pain medication for acute pain in reducing the burden associated with the US opioid epidemic.

The United States continues to grapple with a devastating opioid epidemic. Despite growing awareness of long-term opioid risks, nearly 40 million Americans continue to receive prescription opioids for acute pain each year, and even short-term use can lead to misuse, opioid use disorder (OUD), or overdose. In 2022 alone, nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses — about 82,000 (~76%) involving opioids.  Overall, it is estimated that the opioid epidemic will cost ~$370B in 2025 – more than double the commonly cited 2018 estimate of $180B.