title: The Pain Reliever and Heroin Epidemic in the United States: Shifting Winds in the Perfect Storm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The abuse of prescription pain relievers and/or heroin is a significant public health concern. This article identifies the changes in this epidemic and estimates the extent of the gap between treatment availability and need.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article uses the national data on opioid and heroin abuse to identify at-risk groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings include shifting from narcotic analgesics to heroin and demographic changes as well as changes in supply and new medication-assisted therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of persons dependent on pain relievers or heroin and new initiates is more than three times greater than the current capacity to deliver treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Addiction Research Institute, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlisle Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Medication assisted therapy; buprenorphine; heroin; methadone; naltrexone; opioid epidemic; prescription pain medications