What is Opioids

Since the 1990s, more than 500,000 deaths have been recorded in the U.S. due to opioids, and the opioid crisis has become a leading cause of death. This risk is higher for individuals with cancer as they are prone to becoming addicted but need these drugs to manage chronic pain. In fact, about 75% of cancer patients use opioids but at least 19% of them show signs of misuse. The crisis has cost the U.S. billions of dollars in federal funding. Although the U.S. has increased the accessibility of substance abuse treatments and patient education programs, the stigma of seeking treatment for substance abuse and the necessity of opioids as an analgesic for cancer patients remain. To solve the American opioid crisis's impact on individuals with cancer, an awareness campaign is proposed, allowing for a decrease in stigmatization.