The Pain Problem
Opioid Crisis
One of the Most Devastating Public Health Catastrophes of Our Time
Opioid Overdose is the Leading Cause of Death Among 18-45 Year-Olds1
People misuse opioids annually
in the US2
People in the US are addicted to opioids2
Of abusers report first opioid was prescription3
Deaths annually
28.5% increase from 2020 to 20211
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. NCDAS (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
3. National Institutes of Health
One of the Most Devastating Public Health Catastrophes of Our Time
Opioid Overdose is the Leading Cause of Death Among 18-45 Year-Olds1
People misuse opioids annually
in the US2
People in the US are addicted to opioids2
Of abusers report first opioid was prescription3
Deaths annually
28.5% increase from 2020 to 20211
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. NCDAS (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
3. National Institutes of Health
We Don’t Need a Systemic Solution to a Localized Problem
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Most pain tends to be localized in nature
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Most widely used/available pain treatments are systemic or locally administered and short-acting with indiscriminate actions (loss of all sensory and motor function)
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The most potent pain treatments, for example opioids, broadly affect multiple sensory/motor systems and create dependence (impact the reward center – implications are numerous and serious including self-treating depression, etc.)
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