Problem

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications like hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), codeine, and morphine. Also falling under this class are powerful synthetic opiates such as fentanyl, and street narcotics like heroin. Narcotics, opiates and opioids are all drugs that reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain. The only main difference between opiates and opioids/narcotics is that opiates are naturally-derived, such as opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin, while opioids are man-made and include OxyContin, Vicodin, and fentanyl. Opioids are typically prescribed as pain relievers, and are generally safe if taken in short duration and as prescribed. Longer use, such as for chronic pain or when taken recreationally, can lead to tolerance and dependence, and high doses can lead to overdose.

The Opioid Epidemic

Over the past decade, rates of opioid dependence and overdose have risen to an all-time high. In 2017, more than 47,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses--an average of over 130 people per day. It is estimated that prescription opioid misuse costs the United States $78.5 billion a year in lost productivity, health care, addiction treatment, and criminal justice. In 2017, the president declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency.


Many opioid addictions begin with prescription painkillers. Approximately 21-29% of chronic pain patients misuse their prescription opioids, and 80% of people who use heroin first misuse prescription opioids. Of those who misuse prescription opioids, 53% were taking medication prescribed for a family member or friend.



How Did It Begin?

While the opioid crisis exists due to a variety of sociopolitical factors, one major contributor was the prescription drug companies that manufacture the medications. In the 1990’s, pharmaceutical companies marketed prescription opioids as non-addictive and safe for long-term use. This led to mass overprescription of opioids by physicians; reliance on the drugs, paired with the rising costs of the medication, contributed to a raging black market for prescription and street opioids. 80% of all opioid prescriptions are written in the U.S., and every year, enough opioid prescriptions are written for each U.S. adult to get one.

What Now?

The effects of the opioid epidemic are far-reaching and the ensuing problems are difficult to solve. Opioid addiction has ravaged communities both rich and poor, and has destroyed countless lives. So what now? While there are many actionable angles to take, our group is focused on harm-reduction in the doctor’s office. We believe that opioids can be incredibly important in ensuring a patient’s comfort and well-being during extreme pain, and that when prescribed responsibly, opioids can be used safely and without long-term harm.


The OMR-Tool is meant to aid physicians in having a conversation with patients about their relative risk of misusing opioids. We are leveraging large amounts of data and using cutting-edge machine learning to provide each patient with a prediction of their distinct risk of opioid misuse; additionally, the tool breaks down how each patient’s individual risk factors impact their predicted risk score.


OMR-tool