LibGuides: Opioid Crisis: General Research

For Background Information...

Explore these databases for basic information from articles, books, and more! Want more in-depth articles? Explore any of the fields in the "Finding Resources in Your Field" tab above!

Use these databases for background information:

Academic Search Elite (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Find basic articles from journals, newspapers, and magazines from a wide range of fields.
Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) This link opens in a new window
Sociology articles on the effects of opioids. Less quantitative, more qualitative.

CQ Researcher: Substance Abuse Reports
Read CQ Researcher's extensive reports on the opioid crisis, drug abuse, treating addiction, and more.

ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window
A good resource for starter journal, magazine, and newspaper articles from a wide range of fields.
UpToDate This link opens in a new window
Get definitions and explanations and search by adult, pediatric, patient, or graphics.

For information on using UpToDate, refer to this guide.

Use these subject terms in the databases above or QuickSearch to explore topics further. Mix and match to narrow down your search, like Opioids AND Drug dependence!

Drug abuse
Drug addiction
Drug control -- United States
Drug dependence
Drug enforcement
Drug use
Opioid abuse
Opioids

Useful Websites

NIDA: Opioid Overdose Crisis
From the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with basic historical information and additional links.
FDA: Opioid Medications
Read "What's New," find abuse-deterrent opioids, and learn more about your prescriptions. (From the Food and Drug Administration)
FACING ADDICTION IN AMERICA: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health
(Tip: Use ctrl+F to find keywords in this 400+ page report!)
FDA: Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
The best way to dispose of unused or unwanted drugs? Flush them, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
AMA: End the Epidemic
The American Medical Association's website on taking actions to end the opioid epidemic, like reducing the stigma and expanding access to naxolone.
Duquesne's "Opioids in America" Program Materials
With presentations on "The Opioid Epidemic in Western PA," "Social Determinants of Methadone in Pregnancy," and "Fentanyl - A Brief Guide for First Responders."
SAMHSA: Medication Assisted Treatment
Treating substance use disorders through medication and behavioral therapy. (From Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
NDIA: Opioid Overdose Reversal with Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio)
Learn more about the different medications to treat overdoses, including the nasal spray, NARCAN. (From the National Institute on Drug Abuse)
HHS: About the Epidemic
A page of links about the opioid crisis. (From the Dept. of Health and Human Services)

Data Resources

Global:

Opioid Consumption Data
See global maps, country profiles, and create custom graphs with specified countries and opioids. (From the University of Wisconsin-Madison)

National:

CDC: U.S. Prescribing Rate Maps
From the Centers for Disease Control, from 2006-Present.
CDC: Opioid Overdose
Data and more from the Centers for Disease Control.
CDC: Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics: United States, 1999–2011
MMWR Opioid Reports
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports related to opioids.
National Addiction & HIV Data Archive Program
Browse through the series of studies and their data on addiction. (Note: Some data may have restricted access.)
NIDA: Trends and Statistics
Get national trends, treatment statistics, and more from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Prescription drug abuse increasingly seen as a major U.S. public health problem
Survey data on prescription drugs from the Pew Research Center.
SAMHSA: Data, Outcomes, and Quality
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Local:

WPRDC: Allegheny County Fatal Accidental Overdoses
"Fatal accidental overdose incidents in Allegheny County, denoting age, gender, race, drugs present, zip code of incident and zip code of residence." (From the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center)