The current drug overdose crisis in America, fueled by the opioid epidemic, has already been linked to more than 700,000 deaths since the late 1990s — more deaths than the number of people who live in big US cities like Denver and Washington, DC.
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic has become the deadliest drug overdose crisis in US history. But there are real solutions.
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic could kill hundreds of thousands in the next decade. But America can beat it.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Virginia shows how Medicaid can help end the opioid crisis.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
This is what it looks like when we stop treating addiction as a moral failure.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic could kill hundreds of thousands in the next decade. But America can beat it.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Virginia shows how Medicaid can help end the opioid crisis.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
This is what it looks like when we stop treating addiction as a moral failure.
By German Lopez
In response to the crisis, lawmakers have responded with an array of new policy solutions, focusing on everything from the prescription of opioid painkillers to expanding access to addiction treatment.
But some policy solutions work better than others. Since 2017, Vox has worked to put a bigger spotlight on the policies that work — showing that there really is a way out of the opioid epidemic, albeit one that will require policymakers to take the issue more seriously and dedicate more resources to the task.
These stories are the results of Vox’s efforts, detailing policy interventions spanning North America, from Vermont to California to British Columbia, Canada.
To share your own stories, feel free to email Vox’s lead opioid reporter, German Lopez, at german@vox.com.
Everything in Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
On the ground with the people fighting to help the city’s most vulnerable.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
If America approached addiction treatment like any other form of health care, it would go a long way to solving the opioid crisis.
By German Lopez
Many more health care providers can help. But they need the tools and resources to do so.
By German Lopez
Here’s how to fix America’s painkiller problem — without leaving pain patients behind.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Some health insurers’ policies are keeping addiction treatment out of the hands of patients — in the middle of an opioid epidemic.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
A needle exchange fight in California shows the kinds of hurdles these programs can face.
By German Lopez
Prisons aren’t linking people to adequate addiction treatment — and many are dying as a result.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
We need to stop treating addiction as a moral failure — or more people will die.
By German Lopez
Vermont declared an emergency over the opioid crisis — and actually did something about it.
By German Lopez
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Confronting America’s opioid epidemic
Not every state is responding to the opioid epidemic with just public health policies.
By German Lopez