APA Statement on CDC Report on Deaths From Overdose

Nov 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 17, 2021 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today reported that between April 2020 and April 2021, U.S. deaths from overdoses topped 100,000. This grim milestone constitutes a record, and overall, these deaths are up 29 percent from the prior year.

Today, the American Psychiatric Association reiterates that effective treatments for substance use disorder are available, and renews its calls for:

• Improved access to mental health and substance use services through early identification in evidence-based models that integrate behavioral health treatment into primary care services.
• The development and implementation of science-based policies and programs to end the opioid epidemic and provide effective substance use disorder treatment for all patients, based on a thorough review and discussion with Congress, federal policymakers, and experts in the field of addiction treatment.
• Policies and programs to support accredited medical schools and residency programs in training clinicians to treat people with substance use disorders, as well as incentivize more educators, consultants, and physician leaders to be in roles to develop an addiction workforce.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.