As recently reported in The Washington Post, the release of a comprehensive national dataset on opioid prescriptions provides a ‘virtual road map to the epidemic.’ Research shows that as opioid prescriptions increase, so do the number of opioid overdoses, and the data recently made available to the public dramatically illustrates this fact.

 We see the importance of such data every day in our work with states and communities invested in reducing and preventing the misuse of opioids and its devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities.    

News about the opioid epidemic this can be paralyzing—making us think there is nothing that can be done to address the epidemic which led to 558 deaths in 2017 in Colorado alone. The good news is not only is there something that can be done about the opioid epidemic, but hundreds of healthcare professionals in Colorado are convening this week to increase awareness and share lessons learned from the work that is already being tackled to address the crisis.