ISSUE

Substance Use

Philadelphia health department worker distributing naloxone

Deaths from opioid overdose now outnumber fatal car accidents, contributing to the first sustained drop in life expectancy in the U.S. in decades. Big city public health officials are on the front lines of this epidemic, implementing solutions to combat and prevent addiction, misuse and abuse. They work each day to create programs that prevent and address addiction, fight drug abuse, connect those in need to treatment, and share education with patients, health care providers and the community.

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We need to take action on opioids

Read Our Policy Brief We need to take action on opioids

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How public health departments address the opioid crisis

Read Our Backgrounder Brief How public health departments address the opioid crisis

Data

Drug overdose deaths in big cities rose more than threefold in past decade

Drug overdose deaths in big cities rose more than threefold in past decade Explore the latest data