City Health Information

A ddiction to narcotic pain relievers and heroin (opioids) is a major health problem in the United States (US). Rates of abuse and dependence for opioid pain relievers such as Vicodin® (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen) and OxyContin® (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) have increased during the past several years, and opioids are now second only to marijuana as drugs of abuse.

However, fewer than 20% of Americans who are dependent on opioids (narcotic pain relievers and heroin used intravenously and intranasally) are in drug treatment programs. Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death in New York City (NYC). In 2006, more than 900 people died of drug overdoses in NYC; heroin and other opioids were involved in the majority of these deaths. Buprenorphine is the only approved officebased treatment for opioid dependence. Buprenorphine makes treatment for opioid dependence more readily available, and patients can have their buprenorphine prescriptions filled at a pharmacy. Opioid addiction treatment in a primary care setting also allows for increased clinical attention to other health conditions amongopioid-dependent individuals.